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| Malik Johnson. CCDI |
For Malik Johnson, a 29-year-old union pipe fitter from St. Louis, the trades offered not just a paycheck but a purpose, a skillset, and a path out of hardship. Today, he's on track to earn over $110,000 a year as a journeyman pipe fitter. But his journey to a six-figure income didn’t come through college or a corporate ladder it came through grit, opportunity, and a relentless commitment to building a better life.
Malik’s story begins in childhood, with an instinct to create and construct. While other kids played with their toys, he found joy in the cardboard boxes they came in. With Lego bricks, scraps, and everyday objects, he’d construct mini apartment buildings and stand back with pride: I built that.
His mother noticed that spark early and encouraged him by taking him to construction sites, handing him real tools, and letting him take on projects around the house. That exposure and her support set the foundation for what would become a fulfilling career in the trades.
From Shop Class to the Skilled Trades
Malik’s first structured experience with construction came in high school when his brother introduced him to a coach who also taught construction. It was a natural fit. He picked up tools with confidence, helped classmates master techniques, and even embraced mistakes as part of the learning process.
“I love messing up,” Malik recalls. “Sometimes, when you mess up, you stumble on something new a happy accident.”
Everything changed when Dan Lester, an executive from design-build firm Clayco, visited his class. Lester introduced students to the Construction Career Development Initiative (CCDI), a program designed to open doors for underrepresented communities in construction.
Lester’s presence was impactful. “He walked in with confidence. You could just tell he had built a life for himself,” Malik remembers. “He talked about vision, legacy, opportunity. I realized, this is what I want my life to look like.”
A Career Forged Through Resilience
After graduating high school in 2015, Malik began working as a concrete laborer, helping build major infrastructure like hospitals, bridges, and research facilities. By 2020, however, the pandemic disrupted his career. A layoff forced him to pivot, and that's when he transitioned to pipe fitting a move that would prove to be both financially and personally rewarding.
Unlike a traditional college route, pipe fitting doesn't require student loans or dorm rooms. Instead, Malik enrolled in a union training program with Local 562 Pipe Fitters Union, where he learned everything from blueprint reading to welding, OSHA safety protocols, and advanced math. “It’s like a two-year college experience,” he explains. “Except they pay you to learn.”
He’s currently completing a five-year apprenticeship. Once he becomes a full journeyman pipe fitter in June 2026, his expected annual earnings will exceed $110,000, and he’ll carry a skill set that’s in demand around the world.
But his journey wasn’t linear. It was built on lessons learned and now, he shares the three principles that helped him thrive.
1. Know Your “Why”
One of the most important questions Malik had to ask himself was, Why am I doing this?
His answer was deeply personal. During high school, his family faced homelessness, and his mother was battling breast cancer. With his brother away at college, it was just the two of them. Despite everything, his mother remained strong.
“She made it feel OK, so I didn’t fully grasp how bad it was,” Malik said. “But I knew I never wanted to be homeless again.”
That experience became his fuel. When others weren’t sure what direction to take, Malik leaned into his why. “Figure that out first,” he says. “If you don’t know what you want to do, ask yourself why you want a better life. That will help guide your next steps.”
2. Be Patient Progress Takes Time
In an age where instant success is glorified, Malik emphasizes that growth in the trades is a long-term investment. His own financial journey has had highs and lows. At one point, he was earning $33 an hour as a journeyman laborer pulling in over $100,000 a year. But when the pandemic hit, he was laid off and had to start over at $15 an hour.
Rather than give up, Malik hustled. He worked seven days a week, delivering for DoorDash and Instacart, and picked up odd jobs for family and friends just to stay afloat.
“You have to build yourself back up,” he says. “Even when things fall apart, you keep going. Winners find a way.”
Today, as a fifth-year apprentice, he’s back on the upswing. When he completes his apprenticeship, his union wages will provide a stable, high-income future and he’ll have no student debt.
3. Don’t Let Fear Kill Opportunity
Malik credits much of his progress to his mentors and the structure provided by CCDI. But none of that would have mattered if he hadn’t said yes even when fear crept in.
“I was scared the whole time,” he admits. “Scared of failing, scared of not being good enough. But I wasn’t alone. My mentors believed in me. The program had my back.”
That support helped him push forward when things got uncomfortable. “If I had let fear win, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
His advice? Don’t turn down opportunities because they seem intimidating. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now,” Malik says. “You just have to keep showing up.”
There’s Power in Building
For Malik Johnson, becoming a pipe fitter wasn’t just a career choice it was a lifeline. It gave him a way to support his family, gain confidence, and build a future with his own hands. The trades provided structure, income, community, and a sense of personal pride that college never offered him.
“You don’t need a degree to have a six-figure income,” he says. “You just need a trade, a purpose, and the drive to get better every day.”
His story is a reminder that the skilled trades aren’t just a fallback option they’re a pathway to financial independence, personal growth, and generational change.
