A tradesman is someone who makes their living through skilled manual work that requires special training and practice. Tradesmen include electricians who wire buildings, plumbers who install pipes and fix leaks, carpenters who build houses and furniture, mechanics who repair cars, welders who join metal, and masons who lay bricks and stone.

Unlike jobs you can learn in a few days, becoming a tradesman usually requires years of training, often through an apprenticeship where beginners learn directly from experienced workers. A good tradesman knows both how to do the work and why things are done certain ways: an electrician understands how electricity flows, a plumber knows how water pressure works, and a carpenter recognizes which wood works best for different purposes.

People sometimes use tradesperson to include everyone in these professions regardless of gender, but tradesman is still widely used. These skilled workers keep our homes warm, our lights working, and our buildings standing strong. Many tradesmen run their own businesses, combining their technical skills with the challenge of managing customers, schedules, and training apprentices of their own.