Victoria Madsen, 25, once planned to become a lawyer. While studying English at Utah Valley University, she took a seasonal job at Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah. After the ski season, she accepted an offer to help repair and maintain the lifts. She has now worked as a lift mechanic for about five years.
Although Madsen had no experience fixing machines, her coworkers taught her on the job. The position paid $3 more per hour than her previous job. She eventually left college because she was already earning more than she expected to earn after graduation. Her income helped her get her own apartment and buy a new car. She says she earns more than most of her friends, although she still worries about affording a house or having children.
Her choice reflects wider interest in skilled trades, jobs involving practical skills. A Thumbtack survey of 1,000 Americans ages 16 to 30 found that nearly half were learning a trade or seriously considering one. Madsen remains happy with her decision.
