Quality Training Centers Launches Tool to Calculate Cost of Delaying a Career Change in the Skilled Trades

New interactive calculator helps potential students considering learning high-demand trade careers put a dollar figure on waiting

LAS VEGAS, NV, UNITED STATES, August 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Quality Training Centers (QTC), Southern Nevada’s longest-running independent trade school owned and operated by contractors, has launched a new online calculator designed to show individuals considering a career change how much potential income they may be leaving on the table by waiting to make the switch to the skilled trades.

The QTC Cost Calculator asks users to enter their current monthly income, age, how long they have been considering a career change and the trade program they are considering. Based on that information, the calculator compares the user’s current income with estimated starting earnings in the selected trade, breaking down the potential missed income into daily, monthly, and five-year financial projections.

For instance, the numbers can quickly add up for those considering a move. A 28-year-old earning $30,000 a year who spends nine months considering a career change to electrical could miss out on an estimated $15,003 in potential additional income once the calculator accounts for both the delay period and the time needed to complete training.

“People often look at the cost of training and ask, ‘Can I afford to go to school?’” said Chris Roth, co-owner and operator of Quality Training Centers. “We wanted people to look at the other side of the equation, too. If you want to learn a skilled trade, there can also be a financial cost to staying where you are. The calculator gives people a way to put some numbers around that decision.”

How the numbers crunch

The calculator uses estimated starting salaries for the trade selected, $57,300 per year for HVAC and $61,590 for electrical careers, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.

How quickly someone can complete training also affects the numbers. QTC’s HVAC, electrical and refrigeration programs are designed to prepare students for entry-level opportunities through hands-on training in approximately three months. The shorter the training period, the sooner someone can start earning trade wages instead of losing income to delay.

Skilled Trades in High Demand

In Nevada, the outlook is especially strong with Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation projecting that electrician jobs will grow 14.1% and HVAC mechanic and installer jobs 14.6% from 2022 to 2032, more than double the national pace.

Nationally, employers continue to seek workers in construction and other skilled trades. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction employers had approximately 305,000 job openings in June 2026, up 36% from the previous year. And the workforce gap is expected to persist long-term, as the U.S. Department of Education reports that in construction and other skilled trades, only two workers enter the workforce for every five who retire, projecting up to 2.1 million skilled-trade jobs could go unfilled by 2030.

The QTC Cost Calculator is available free at https://www.qualitytrainingcenters.com/cost-calculator/.

The calculator is intended for informational and illustrative purposes only. Salary projections, earnings estimates and career timelines are based on publicly available data and QTC graduate outcomes and are not guarantees of employment or future earnings. Individual results vary based on factors including location, employer, experience, certifications and market conditions.

About Quality Training Centers:
Quality Training Centers (QTC) is Las Vegas’ oldest trade school, owned and operated by tradesmen and built for contractors since 1994. Specializing in HVAC, Electrical, and Refrigeration, QTC operates as a B2B Talent Pipeline where contractors design the curriculum and the school delivers field-ready technicians who can work from day one. With courses from 4-12 weeks, students go from classroom to jobsite-ready, graduating not as entry-level candidates but as vetted, tested, contractor-approved technicians, providing immediate ROI for employers. Hire-Ready. Contractor-Approved.

To learn more, visit https://www.qualitytrainingcenters.com/ or connect on Facebook and Instagram @Qualitytrainingcenters.

Mindy Eras
GYC Vegas
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