Here are the best schools in New York City. This guide lists accredited programs, what each school does well, and the steps to get licensed in New York. You will also see which trades are in demand and flexible ways to train. New York City keeps hiring electricians, HVAC techs, plumbers, and welders as buildings go up and older systems get replaced1.
Compare Trade Schools Near New York City, New York
All schools below hold recognized institutional accreditation and serve NYC students. Program lengths are typical ranges and can vary by day or evening schedules.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from
federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings
are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single
trade. Distance is measured from the main population center in New York.
Schools closest to the main population center in New York are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the main population center in New York is shown for reference.
The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation,
earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within
each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it.
*Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is
completed in person. Read the full methodology.
Median Annual Wage by Trade - New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ's most-employed tradesTrades ranked by local employment (BLS QCEW); wages are median annual pay (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; metro area where reported, otherwise statewide).
Median annual wage by trade in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Trade
Median annual wage
Radiologic technologists
$102,730
Phlebotomy technicians
$49,980
Nursing assistants
$49,270
Patient care technicians
$49,270
Medical assistants
$48,370
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Trade Schools in New York City, New York (2026 Guide)Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best Trade Schools in New York City, New York (2026 Guide)
School
Median graduate earnings
Berk Trade and Business School
$47,739
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
$47,724
Allen School-Brooklyn
$37,719
EDP School
$30,267
Cost, Earnings, and Program Length in New York City
Among the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area’s most-employed trades (BLS QCEW 2024), median annual pay ranges from $48,370 to $102,730 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025); the chart above compares the five with the largest local workforces. Typical medical assistant training runs 9-12 months (certificate or diploma) (TradeCareerPath program data).
NYC’s construction, transit, and building retrofit projects keep electricians busy year-round. Work includes new installs, service, low-voltage, and solar. Nationally, electricians see steady openings tied to construction and maintenance cycles1. Training paths include school-based electrical programs followed by apprenticeship with a contractor or union.
HVAC/R Technician
Heat pumps, building electrification, and Local Law energy upgrades are expanding HVAC jobs across the city. Technicians who can diagnose, recover refrigerant, and commission variable-refrigerant-flow systems are valued1. EPA Section 608 certification is required for refrigerant handling2.
Plumber and Pipefitter
Demand stays strong due to ongoing residential and commercial work, code upgrades, and gas piping safety compliance. Many NYC plumbers train through a five-year registered apprenticeship with classroom instruction and paid hours3. Licensed Master Plumbers lead permit work in the city4.
Welder
Structural steel, bridge work, and shop fabrication create steady welding opportunities. Combination welders who can work SMAW, FCAW, and GTAW in multiple positions are preferred. In NYC, many structural welds require a licensed welder approved by the Department of Buildings and qualified to AWS standards4.
Job growth uses state projections when available and national projections (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034) when state data is unavailable. Median pay for each trade is shown in the comparison table above.
Licensing is local for many construction trades in New York. New York City has specific requirements through the Department of Buildings (DOB). Always verify current rules before you apply.
Electrician (NYC)
No statewide electrician license. NYC licenses Master Electricians and Special Electricians through the DOB4.
Typical steps:
Complete an approved electrical apprenticeship or equivalent education and experience.
Apply to sit for the exam and pass the written and practical portions.
Submit background documents, employer verification, and required insurance.
Maintain your license and business registrations as required by the city.
Accumulate verified years of experience in plumbing work. Education can credit toward experience.
Apply and pass the Master Plumber exam.
Provide insurance and required documentation to the DOB.
Gas work in NYC also requires specific qualifications and endorsements.
HVAC/R
No statewide HVAC contractor license. EPA Section 608 certification is required for anyone who handles refrigerants2.
In NYC, certain refrigeration and boiler operations require DOB or FDNY credentials. Large plant operators and refrigeration system operating roles have specific city exams and certificates. Check DOB and FDNY guidance for current thresholds and permit holders4.
Many HVAC installers work under licensed Master Plumbers for gas piping or under permitted contractors for mechanical work.
Welder (NYC)
NYC requires welders working on regulated structural jobs to hold a DOB Welder License and pass a performance test. AWS qualification is commonly required as part of the process4.
Keep procedure qualifications current and follow job-specific welding procedure specifications.
Apprenticeships
Many trades use Registered Apprenticeships with paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction. Search active programs through the New York State Department of Labor3.
Online & Flexible Options
Hybrid training: Most NYC trade programs blend classroom theory online with in-person labs. You still need hands-on practice to build skills employers trust.
Evening and weekend cohorts: Apex, Berk, ACE, and CUNY continuing education divisions offer evening or weekend schedules to fit work.
Certification prep: EPA 608, OSHA outreach, and exam prep modules can be completed online, but plan to test with an approved proctor for industry certifications2.
Credit pathways: Community colleges let you stack certificates toward an associate degree, which can help with supervisory roles later.
Apprenticeship-friendly: If you land an apprenticeship, ask the training center which related instruction credits transfer from local schools.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Electricians, HVACR Technicians, Plumbers/Pipefitters/Steamfitters, and Welders pages. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/↩︎↩︎↩︎
