Plumbers vs electricians vs cabinet makers vs culinary vs medical admins
Plumbers
So, what are your options if you want to work in a skilled trade without subjecting yourself to the physical demands and discomfort of being a plumber?
Electricians
If you’re looking for a skilled trade that’s not physically taxing on your body, you might consider becoming an electrician. In this field, you won’t be lifting heavy loads or working with big equipment.
Instead, you’ll be working with electricity all day. That’s why it’s very important to be careful and follow safety procedures while on the job. One mistake could lead to serious injury.
Electricians are in high demand because they provide a valuable service. You will see them installing new electrical systems or repairing old ones in houses, commercial buildings, and industrial sites like factories and power plants. They usually work independently, but sometimes they team up with other electricians when the job is big enough to require more people.
Most electricians are paid well and have a good quality of life because they get benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans from their employers or unions (groups of workers who negotiate for better pay). Electricians can also specialize in different areas like residential construction or maintenance work at hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Cabinet makers
Cabinet makers build and install cabinets, countertops, and other fixtures in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas of residential and commercial buildings. As a cabinet maker you must be able to stand for long periods of time, lift and carry heavy objects, and use power tools and other equipment. Cabinet makers can be found working in large factories or small shops. To become a cabinet maker you will need to complete an apprenticeship program that lasts three to four years.
Culinary (cooks, bakers, etc)
The first question to ask yourself is: how much time do you want to spend on your feet? Culinary professionals in any position generally spend all day on their feet, running around the kitchen making sure the cooking process is going smoothly. Bakers tend to stand more than cooks, but cooks may need to lift heavier things (like hot pots and pans). Cooking also requires a level of physical fitness—the faster you can run, lift and chop, the better. It’s also good to be able to withstand higher temperatures—cooking kitchens can get very hot!
The next question is: how much time do you want to spend on your knees? Plumbing and electrical work both involve bending down and getting up over and over again. There are some positions for these trades where you may not need to bend quite so often—for example, electricians who work indoors with new circuits will likely do less kneeling than those who repair outdoor power lines or underground wiring.
Plumbers and electricians also have other factors that might affect which trade they prefer. For example, electricians often work in small spaces like crawlspaces or attics where they have no standing room and very little room for their equipment. This may pose a problem if you are claustrophobic or prone to panic attacks in tight spaces. Plumbers often have heavy tools that can be difficult to carry around all day (e.g., wrenches and pipe cutters).
Medical admins
A lot of people don’t know that medical administrative assistants are a type of skilled trade because they’re office based, low risk, and don’t require any physical labour or heavy lifting. They also don’t have standing or sitting for long periods of time, extreme temperatures, chemicals, travel requirements, or heavy machinery.
They all have different physical demands
Some skilled trades are not physically taxing on the body, while others require a great deal of exertion.
You can see this when you look at the job descriptions for various skilled trades.
For example, plumbers typically spend a lot of time doing heavy lifting and crawling around to get to pipes. This can be difficult on the body over time.
On the other hand, electricians don't typically have to do much heavy lifting, but they may have to contort their bodies into odd positions in order to reach wires in tight spaces. This also takes its toll over time.
A cabinet maker isn’t likely to strain their back or wear themselves out as much as an electrician or plumber does on a daily basis, but that doesn't mean there won't be back pain from bending over for long periods of time and working with power tools .
