The skills are the part people worry about, but money is usually what decides whether a career change works. Most routes into a trade mean a year or two on lower pay before you're qualified and earning properly. This calculator shows how long your savings would last while you train, so you can plan for that dip instead of hoping it works out.
Put in your own numbers. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
How the calculator works
It works out your take-home pay at each stage using 2026/27 income tax and National Insurance rates for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, then adds any other income and takes away your essential spending. Whatever is left over, or short, is added to or taken from your savings each month. Course fees are spread evenly across the course.
- Apprenticeships start at the apprentice minimum wage (£8.00 an hour from April 2026) unless you change it. After the first year, if you're 19 or over, you're owed the normal minimum wage for your age. See apprentice pay for the details.
- Night school assumes you keep your current job while you study, then move into a trainee role at lower pay to get site experience.
- A full-time course means no wages while you study, then the same trainee stage.
It's a planning tool, not a promise. It doesn't include student loan repayments, pension contributions, Scottish tax rates, pay rises or minimum wage increases each April, so treat the result as a rough guide.
Ways to close a gap
- Ask about pay. The apprentice minimum is a floor. Employers short of workers often pay adult apprentices more, especially if you bring useful experience.
- Check funding. Many adults can get courses free or pay with an Advanced Learner Loan, which you only repay once you earn over a threshold. See funding for adult trade courses.
- Train before you quit. Night school lets you get the qualification on your current salary and only take the pay cut once you're closer to qualified.
- Build a buffer first. Six months of saving before you switch can be the difference between a stressful year and a manageable one.
Quick answers
How much savings do I need to switch to a trade?
It depends on your route and your bills. A rough rule is to cover the gap between your spending and your training income for the whole low-pay period, plus a few months spare. Use the calculator above with your own numbers.
Can I do an apprenticeship at 30 or older?
Yes. There's no upper age limit for apprenticeships in England. From your second year, if you're 21 or over, you're owed at least the full National Living Wage.
Is it cheaper to retrain through night school?
Usually, because you keep your wage while you study. The trade-off is that it's slower and tiring, and you still need site experience before you're fully qualified.
Does the calculator store my numbers?
No. Everything is worked out in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.