Choosing the right career path is a difficult decision. You have to weigh what you are passionate about, what your skills are, and what is going to pay the bills. You also need to figure out your capacity to work and what kind of position you are looking for.
One career path that generates a lot of interest among aspiring professionals in North Carolina is becoming a contractor, specifically in the construction industry. There are many potential roles that you can fulfill in this industry, and you can either work in the residential space, commercial space, government sector, or a blend of the three.
The role of a contractor may suit some people very well, but it can also be challenging. Here are some of the pros and cons of becoming a contractor in the state of North Carolina.
Pro: Job Opportunity Variety
Contractors in the construction industry have many disciplines to choose from. You can specialize in municipal utilities, electrical, mechanical, heavy construction, and other fields as a contractor. General contractors oversee entire projects, working with subcontractors that specialize in various disciplines. If you have an interest in the clean energy landscape in homes, you could focus entirely on solar panel installation or energy-efficient wiring expertise. The variety of opportunities means more personalities could be a fit for contractor positions.
Con: Dangerous Work
When you are involved in the construction industry, the nature of your work can be dangerous. You are working with heavy structural materials, large pieces of equipment, and complex building systems that pose a risk to your health. If you get queasy around heights or are particularly careful about physical safety, then contracting may not be for you.
Pro: Shorter Educational Path
Many types of jobs require a four-year degree or more before you can even get started. However, most contractor disciplines do not require this level of education. You could attend a trade school for two years and find a role after you have obtained your license. Other paths to employment could include becoming an apprentice to a more experienced contractor. Though you will have to invest in North Carolina contractor continuing education courses to maintain your license, this is only a few hours per year.
Con: Limited Salary Potential
Although you can earn a decent income as a contractor early on, your ability to make even more is limited. Once you become a journeyman contractor, you have essentially reached the pinnacle of income for your discipline. If you want to increase your income, you may need to consider becoming a project manager or pursuing an executive position at general contractor companies. It may be the only way to dramatically increase your income.
Pro: Early Income
Although your income potential is limited, you can also start earning money far sooner than your peers in other industries. This is partly because of the shorter route to completing the education and licensing required for a contractor position. Additionally, this income will be sufficient for most professionals, even if they have families. You can make decent money as a contractor right from the get-go so long as you can book clients.
Con: Seasonal Work
Construction work ramps up in the warmer months and slows down when winter approaches since the weather can shut down a lot of the safe working conditions. This means your finances could be stretched during those less busy seasons, making it even more important to have a lot of projects during other times of the year.
Pro: Practical Skills
One of the main benefits of a career as a contractor is that you have skills that are practical for everyday life. If you study to become a certified electrician, then you can also handle issues that come up with your own house. Specialize in solar panel installation, and you can do this work for yourself to create a more efficient home. The skills you acquire as a contractor have more uses than just for work.
Con: Overhead Costs
Getting started as a contractor can be expensive. If you are striking out on your own, you will need to cover the costs of all your equipment, licensing, and tools. Construction is an industry that has very high overhead in general, so there is a lot of risk involved if you are unable to book projects to generate enough revenue to cover those expenses.
If You Love Working With Your Hands, Contracting May Be Perfect
Perhaps the biggest indicator of a person who would make a good contractor is a passion for working with their hands. Most jobs in construction do not involve sitting at a computer all day, though these elements do exist because of all the logistics involved. You will get to work with your hands regularly, so if this is something you enjoy, then you are well-suited for the position of a contractor.
Weigh the other pros and cons as well when deciding whether or not you want to enter the construction industry as a contractor.