Trade school programs in Pennsylvania

372 trade school programs in 20 fields of skilled trades, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

69 schools offer these programs, and Pennsylvania has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 20 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

Trade school programs teach hands-on work with tools, machines and building systems. That runs from building work like carpentry, plumbing and electrical, through repairing cars, diesel trucks, heating and cooling systems and factory machinery, to welding, sheet metal, masonry, auto body repair, CNC machining, manufacturing and electronics work, solar and wind installation, water treatment, workplace safety, running heavy equipment and cranes, and inspecting homes. Most are certificates; some are two-year degrees or apprenticeships.

All job training programs in Pennsylvania, every line of work

Accredited trade schools in Pennsylvania, each school with its accreditor

Trade school programs by state, to compare Pennsylvania with other states

Compare trade school programs in Pennsylvania: cost, pay and results

Welding classes
68 programs at 44 schools
Most cost
$3,490 to $12,629
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
77%
HVAC training (heating and cooling)
47 programs at 37 schools
Most cost
$6,400 to $18,365
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
86%
CNC machinist training
39 programs at 23 schools
Most cost
$3,745 to $9,750
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Construction training programs
33 programs at 21 schools
Most cost
$6,300 to $15,193
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Electrician training
31 programs at 23 schools
Most cost
$6,575 to $22,478
Earned a year, estimated
about $39,900
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
86%
Auto mechanic classes
28 programs at 18 schools
Most cost
$6,500 to $17,154
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
78%
Carpentry classes
20 programs at 14 schools
Most cost
$7,124 to $17,000
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Industrial maintenance technician training
18 programs at 13 schools
Most cost
$8,683 to $16,374
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
76%
Diesel mechanic training
15 programs at 9 schools
Most cost
$8,423 to $26,343
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
80%
Plumbing school
14 programs at 10 schools
Most cost
$3,942 to $14,442
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
100%
Auto body repair classes
14 programs at 11 schools
Most cost
$8,500 to $20,516
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
AutoCAD and drafting courses (computer-aided design)
13 programs at 9 schools
Most cost
$1,199 to $14,420
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Heavy equipment operator training
10 programs at 7 schools
Most cost
$7,034 to $13,965
Earned a year, estimated
about $56,100
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
97%
Masonry training
7 programs at 6 schools
Most cost
$8,303 to $11,860
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Home inspector training
3 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Manufacturing technician training
3 programs at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Electronics technician training
3 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Water treatment operator training (water and wastewater)
3 programs at 3 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Sheet metal training
2 programs at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not enough data
Lineman school (power line work)
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not enough data

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in Pennsylvania may offer more. How these figures are made

Is there free trade school in Pennsylvania?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by field: most welding programs in Pennsylvania cost $3,490 to $12,629, and most auto body programs $8,500 to $20,516. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in Pennsylvania, by line of work

Programs approved in Pennsylvania in each line of work.

Where the Pennsylvania trade school numbers come from

Which Pennsylvania programs are counted?

Programs Pennsylvania approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Pennsylvania offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

How reliable are the Pennsylvania figures?

We leave out the share working 6 months later for Pennsylvania: its rates sit far below every other state's, and the counts suggest jobs were traced only for students whose training was publicly paid.

Sources for the funding facts about trade school programs in Pennsylvania

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services