⚡ Trades vs. College Calculator
freeBreak-even age
Age 36
The bachelor’s path catches up with the electrician path at age 36 — 14 years after graduation. At the end of the four training years (age 21), the electrician is $283,934 ahead: $164k earned in the apprenticeship vs. $120k paid for college.
$63,190
Electrician median wage (BLS 2025)
$82,888
Bachelor’s median earnings (BLS CPS)
$164k
Earned during 4 apprentice years
$120k
4-year college cost at your inputs
Show the numbers as a table
| Age | Electrician (cumulative) | Bachelor’s (cumulative) | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | $31,595 | −$29,910 | Trade +$62k |
| 22 | $227,484 | −$36,752 | Trade +$264k |
| 26 | $480,244 | $294,800 | Trade +$185k |
| 30 | $733,004 | $626,352 | Trade +$107k |
| 34 | $985,764 | $957,904 | Trade +$28k |
| 38 | $1,238,524 | $1,289,456 | Bachelor’s +$51k |
| 42 | $1,491,284 | $1,621,008 | Bachelor’s +$130k |
| 46 | $1,744,044 | $1,952,560 | Bachelor’s +$209k |
| 50 | $1,996,804 | $2,284,112 | Bachelor’s +$287k |
Real 2025 dollars, pre-tax, medians held constant. Trades path: registered apprenticeship at 50/60/70/80 % of the trade median (DOL standard), then 100 %. College path: your annual cost for 4 years, then the BLS bachelor’s-only median. Loan interest not included — the average bachelor’s borrower graduates with $29,560 of debt (College Board). Full methodology and sources below.