What 3 Months of Trade School SEO Would Have Cost in Google Ads

We took three months of Google Search Console data from a trades education and union apprenticeship client and asked the same question we always ask: what would this organic presence cost to replicate through Google Ads? With 1,390 clicks, 37,700 impressions, and 1,000 tracked queries across plumbing, HVAC, welding, and steamfitting terms, the paid-ad equivalent runs to $11,563–$15,000+ per quarter when you factor in clicks, impressions, and campaign management. Here's the full breakdown — and what it means for trade programs still treating SEO as optional.