Select a program of interest to explore trade schools that match your goals.
Here are the best schools in Alachua. This page compares accredited programs near you, explains Florida licensing, and shows where the jobs are in 2025. Use it to pick a program and start training without guesswork.
These schools are within an easy drive of Alachua and offer accredited workforce programs. Program lengths are approximate and vary by certificate or degree.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Electrician Electricians keep homes, hospitals, and industry powered. Work includes wiring, panels, controls, and troubleshooting. The BLS reports strong national demand and solid wages for electricians, with median pay above many other trades1. Many employers in North Central Florida prefer candidates who completed an electrical program or a registered apprenticeship.
HVAC/R Technician Florida’s heat drives year-round HVAC work. Techs install, service, and fix cooling and refrigeration systems. EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants2. Nationally, median HVAC pay is competitive, and experienced techs can move up to foreman or licensed contractor roles1.
Welder Welders join metal for construction, manufacturing, and repair. Structural, pipe, and fabrication skills open doors across the Iā75 corridor. Employers often look for AWS or NCCER-based training and want to see weld test proficiency in multiple processes3.
Plumber Plumbers install and repair piping, fixtures, and backflow systems. In Florida, licensure is at the contractor level, but local journeyman cards exist in some jurisdictions. BLS shows stable national demand, with strong earnings potential for licensed contractors1.
Explore more career details and training paths in our trade hub: All Trades. See focused pages for Electrician, HVAC, Welding, and Plumbing.
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Flooring Installer | $56,326 | 9.5% |
| Plumber | $52,910 | 4.5% |
| Welder | $50,640 | 2.2% |
| Carpenter | $49,870 | 4.5% |
| Construction Worker | $44,030 | 7.3% |
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Manager | $113,130 | 8.7% |
| Home Inspector | $68,170 | -0.8% |
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Lineworker | $86,870 | 6.6% |
| Wind Turbine Technician | $64,120 | 49.9% |
| Tower Technician | $60,140 | 8.6% |
| Electrician | $57,250 | 9.5% |
| HVAC Technician | $56,670 | 8.1% |
| Solar Installer | $50,550 | 42.1% |
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic (A&P) | $76,940 | 4.0% |
| Diesel Technician | $60,490 | 2.4% |
| Gunsmith | $59,310 | 2.0% |
| CNC Machinist | $57,140 | 0.0% |
| Truck Driver (CDL) | $50,640 | 4.0% |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $49,400 | 3.6% |
| Auto Mechanic | $48,260 | 4.2% |
| Automotive Technician | $48,260 | 4.2% |
| Maintenance Technician | $46,060 | 3.8% |
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | $61,770 | 2.6% |
| Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) | $61,770 | 2.6% |
| Hemodialysis Technician | $45,760 | 5.2% |
| Medical Assistant | $43,680 | 12.5% |
| Mental Health Technician | $43,570 | 20.0% |
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $37,510 | 2.3% |
| Patient Care Technician | $37,510 | 2.3% |
| Home Health Aide | $33,800 | 17.0% |
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $82,940 | 13.0% |
| EKG Technician | $77,140 | 3.0% |
| Radiologic Technologist | $76,750 | 4.3% |
| Surgical Technologist | $62,440 | 4.5% |
| Optician | $58,850 | 2.9% |
| Dental Assistant | $47,620 | 6.4% |
| Sterile Processing Technician | $45,890 | 10.0% |
| Pharmacy Technician | $43,590 | 6.4% |
| Phlebotomy Technician | $40,230 | 5.6% |
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Billing & Coding Specialist | $45,760 | 7.1% |
| Medical Office Administrator | $41,730 | 4.2% |
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $71,630 | 19.2% |
| Massage Therapist | $49,680 | 15.4% |
| Personal Trainer | $38,800 | 11.9% |
| Physical Therapy Aide | $35,140 | 2.8% |
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Technician | $46,380 | 9.1% |
| Veterinary Assistant | $37,830 | 8.7% |
| Dog Trainer | $36,870 | 5.1% |
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Esthetician | $43,880 | 6.7% |
| Beauty Professional | $29,530 | 5.6% |
| Cosmetologist | $29,530 | 5.6% |
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Culinary Chef | $39,604 | 7.1% |
| Pastry Chef | $39,604 | 7.1% |
| Trade | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034, US) |
|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | $61,000 | 0.2% |
| Bookkeeper | $49,330 | -5.8% |
| Digital Court Reporter | $49,240 | -0.3% |
Median salaries reflect the latest OEWS release; job growth uses state projections when available and national projections when state data is unavailable.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. State data (Florida) shown where available; national OEWS values used when state data is unavailable. Job growth reflects projected U.S. change for each trade.
Florida licenses contractors at the state level through DBPR. Many entry-level technicians work under a licensed contractor while building experience.
Electrician (Contractor)
Note: “Journeyman electrician” is a local credential in some counties and cities, not a statewide license. Check local requirements in Alachua County or Gainesville.
HVAC/R
Plumbing
Welding
Before you enroll, match your program to the license you’re targeting. If your goal is to run your own business, pick a program that includes business prep and exam review, or plan for post-graduate exam study.
Hands-on trades require lab time, but many local colleges blend classroom, online, and evening schedules:
Ask each school about:
Pick two schools from the list, schedule campus tours, and ask about upcoming cohorts and certification pass rates. If you already work in the field, bring proof of experience to see if you can shorten your training.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook and OEWS data for skilled trades (accessed 2025). ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
U.S. EPA Section 608 Technician Certification requirements (accessed 2025). ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
NCCER. standardized construction and manufacturing curricula and credentials (accessed 2025). ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board and Construction Industry Licensing Board (accessed 2025). ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator. institutional profiles and accreditation (accessed 2025). ↩︎
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade career guide using BLS, DOL, and state licensing data. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
