Work in the industrial trades:
- Great salaries and benefits
- Job security
- Less student debt
- Comfortable lifestyle
- More info: www.evit.com
If you’re looking for a high-paying career you can start right after high school or with a minimal amount of college debt, check out the industrial trades career training programs offered at the East Valley Institute of Technology.
“High school students in our district are tuition-free and adult students at a relatively low cost are able to get trained for high-demand jobs with great benefits and salaries without carrying the burden of a big student loan,” said Mark Pierce, director of EVIT’s industrial trades programs.
Plumbers, construction workers and managers, welders, mechanics and more are the occupations that are always in-demand and keep Arizona moving forward. They are, Pierce said, “the heartbeat of their organization.”
EVIT is a public school providing career training for high school students and adults at two central campuses in Mesa and a branch campus at Apache Junction High School. High school students attend tuition-free; adults pay tuition with financial aid available in some programs for those who qualify.
Of the 40-plus programs offered by EVIT, six are in the building and manufacturing industrial trades: Construction Technologies, Plumbing, Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC), Electrical & Power Transmission Installation, Welding and Machining Technology. Four additional transportation programs are related to the industrial trades: Automotive Technologies, Collision Repair, Diesel Technology and Aviation. To learn more about each program, visit: www.evit.com/programs.
Alum Allistar Machacek attended EVIT in the 2013-14 school year, taking Construction Technologies his first semester and Precision Machining in the spring semester. He went on to Arizona State University where he earned a bachelor of science degree in construction management while working for AeroSpec, Inc., a local equipment engineering and manufacturing company, as a machinist intern.
“The skills I learned at EVIT had a big impact by allowing me to get a good job out of high school and pay for my living expenses while going to college,” he said.
Now employed as a senior VDC (virtual design and construction) engineer for McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., Machacek enjoys working in an industry that “has always allowed me to take on as much responsibility as I am willing to take while giving me a very comfortable lifestyle.”
While Machacek attended college, you don’t need a degree to earn good pay and benefits in the industrial trades and have the peace of mind that comes with job security.
“Almost every building has pipes and water flow, so there will always be a need for experts to install, repair and maintain them,” said Joe Ditmer, who teaches EVIT’s Plumbing program. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the industry will add 23,400 jobs by 2029.
“With hard work in three to five years after finishing the plumbing program, you can make a six-figure income,” Ditmer said.
For those who are already employed in the industrial trades, EVIT’s adult programs offer a way to add skills and certifications. For example, the EVIT Welding program is an accredited test facility for the American Welding Society offering several AWS certifications.
The industrial trades programs focus on hands-on training and include opportunities for job shadowing and internships.
“It’s a great way to get a head-start in your education or work experience,” Machacek said.
EVIT students have a 98% high school graduation rate. In 2022 surveys, 95% of students said they would recommend EVIT to a friend and 98% of parents said they would recommend EVIT to other families.
Enrollment in high school programs for 2023-24 is under way and enrollment in adult programs is ongoing throughout the year. To start the process, visit: www.evit.com/enrollnow.