Carpenter
For 35 years, Billy Dkyan worked as a carpenter in Philadelphia. He started as a general contractor after graduating high school and then continued with the carpenter’s union where he completed an apprenticeship program. Throughout his career, he helped build residential and commercial homes and did everything from house framing to high-rises.
Part of the appeal of being a carpenter is the simplicity and the reward. He said, ‘There is some pressure on your body but otherwise there is minimal stress involved. Plus, you start with nothing and end up with a building. You get to see a result at the end of the day.’ Dkyan took a brief hiatus from the field to work in the carpenter’s union office but ultimately returned to manual labor, preferring to feel the sense of daily gratification that comes with seeing the progress and result of building four walls every day.
Since physical structures need to be built and maintained, the field offers job security. Dykan was able to retire at 53 and focus on his five children. He says, ‘ If you’re a carpenter, you can always make a living in most circumstances. You can always hang a door or put in a window.’ Salary: According to U.S. News, carpenters can earn up to $76,750. Suggested skills: physical strength, precision, math sensibility, mechanical ability, communication
