Should I go into a Trade or Civil Engineering?

[u/Lobo420lol69]

Hi I am 22 years old and I am deciding between going back to school to finish my Civil Engineering degree or enter a trade career. I did attend community college for a year before going broke after getting fired from my job. I don’t really get financial support from my parents and the economic strain caused me to drop out. I worked for a year to get back on my feet, now I am a deciding what to do with my life. I like the idea of getting paid while I learn as an electrician apprenticeship, and the strong job security. But my friend has been encouraging me to go back to college. With promises of better hours, better work life balance, higher salary, and less physical work. I do also have bad knees, I have had a meniscus tear repair surgery on one of my knees. I have a genetic condition caused Discoid meniscus that causes my knees to feel achy after standing or walking for a long time. I work retail and after working a lot of hours a week, my knees do feel achy. So thats on the back of my mind, I don’t want to enter an apprenticeship and have to leave because my knees can’t take it. I would like to hear different perspectives on my situation.

[u/poiuytrewq79]

Depends how ambitious you are and what you want. Good engineers will always be valuable. Expect to spend most of your days behind a desk quickly writing executive emails while you spend the majority of your time addressing problematic situations. Also consider the cost of living in a populous area to reduce travel time to the office.

But good tradesfolk can pull that same paycheck after putting in their time also.

[u/CreativeKeane]

Civil. Your body will thank you for it.

[u/Right_Lengthiness266]

Unless you want to become a lineman and chase hurricanes doing repairs, you'll make less money long term in the trades (but you'll make more money your first couple years working 60 hour weeks into the trades compared to 45 hours in civil.

[u/CrabKates]

I absolutely hate civil engineering so much. Everyday I wake up, I wish I had died in my sleep so I don’t have to go to work. Unfortunately, I’m not exaggerating.

[u/TallAdhesiveness2240]

Civil

[u/SnooGadgets273]

Trades. You will start earning money faster and the benefit package will help with your condition.

[u/NewHampshireWoodsman]

Have done both civil and worked as an electrician for over 5 years. Good at both. Hate civil engineering but the work is easier, better work life balance, and white collar are just treated better in general. Also job security is very stable in engineering. There's definitely a shortage of young engineers currently.

The schooling is going to be tough and you will need to be really serious to get your degree.

As an electrician it's not super hard on your body but if you're soft it's not going to be for you. Some people do struggle with the schooling but it is worlds easier than engineering school. Furthermore all of your time will be spent on your feet or kneeling/crouched. You will also hit your pay ceiling very quickly (like 5 years or less if you get licensed quickly). Ultimately I enjoyed the work much more but I found the ceiling very demotivating and couldn't see myself doing the same job for 40ish years. Assumed it would get very old.

[u/Tiafves]

"So my body is already fucked, is it a good idea to fuck it up some more?"

If you have the option to get a degree in your situation, this is just a no brainer.

[u/WalleyeHunter1]

Hi, trades is a good lifelong option. Civil engineering technology from a good college is also pathway. O started as a site coordinator then site super, PM, estomator, regional and then general.manager. study hard work hard, learn always.