---
title: "Skilled Trades Jobs 2026, Pay, Apprenticeships… | Metaintro"
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author: "drashtigarach"
published: "2026-10-10T06:17:29.000Z"
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---

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# Skilled Trades Jobs 2026, Pay, Apprenticeships and Licenses

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers earned a $109,910 median in May 2025. Compare pay, apprenticeships and licenses for electricians and plumbers.

[![Drashti Garach](https://cdn.metaintro.com/rs:fill:40:40/q:72/plain/images/5719d740-e510-42bc-8017-e040d145f35f_1766029465094.png)Drashti Garach @DrashtiGarach](/blog/author/drashtigarach)

[October 10, 2026](/blog/archive/2026/10)19 min read

![An apprentice electrician in a hard hat and hi-vis vest wiring an electrical panel in a training workshop](https://cdn.metaintro.com/rs:fill:1200:675/q:78/plain/images/10503.jpg)

[https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=Skilled%20Trades%20Jobs%202026%2C%20Pay%2C%20Apprenticeships%20and%20Licenses&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fskilled-trades-jobs-pay-apprenticeships-licenses-2026](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=Skilled%20Trades%20Jobs%202026%2C%20Pay%2C%20Apprenticeships%20and%20Licenses&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fskilled-trades-jobs-pay-apprenticeships-licenses-2026)[http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fskilled-trades-jobs-pay-apprenticeships-licenses-2026](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fskilled-trades-jobs-pay-apprenticeships-licenses-2026)[https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fskilled-trades-jobs-pay-apprenticeships-licenses-2026&title=Skilled%20Trades%20Jobs%202026%2C%20Pay%2C%20Apprenticeships%20and%20Licenses](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fskilled-trades-jobs-pay-apprenticeships-licenses-2026&title=Skilled%20Trades%20Jobs%202026%2C%20Pay%2C%20Apprenticeships%20and%20Licenses)[mailto:?subject=Skilled%20Trades%20Jobs%202026%2C%20Pay%2C%20Apprenticeships%20and%20Licenses&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fskilled-trades-jobs-pay-apprenticeships-licenses-2026](mailto:?subject=Skilled%20Trades%20Jobs%202026%2C%20Pay%2C%20Apprenticeships%20and%20Licenses&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.metaintro.com%2Fblog%2Fskilled-trades-jobs-pay-apprenticeships-licenses-2026)

In the skilled trades, a high school diploma and a paid apprenticeship can still lead to a solid middle class wage. The [median annual wage for construction and extraction occupations was $59,540 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all occupations](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/home.htm), and the [installation, maintenance, and repair group sat at $59,620](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/home.htm) on its own [Bureau of Labor Statistics overview](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/home.htm). Those two groups alone are projected to have [about 587,000 openings each year in construction and extraction](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/home.htm) and [about 569,000 each year in installation, maintenance, and repair](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/home.htm). This guide covers the main trade families, what each job pays, how the apprenticeship and licensing paths work, and which of our detailed guides to read next. For [Metaintro](https://www.metaintro.com) readers, it works as a map, so start with the trade that matches the training time you can afford. All pay and outlook figures here are US data from federal sources.

## How Big Are the Skilled Trades and What Do They Pay Overall?

This guide draws on four occupational groups that the Bureau of Labor Statistics files separately, and the pay picture is different in each one.

Construction, installation and repair work pays more as a group. Both the [construction and extraction group](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/home.htm) and the [installation, maintenance, and repair group](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/home.htm) earned more than the all occupations median of $50,980 in May 2025, and both are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2025 to 2035.

Factory and transport work sits lower on average but hires in huge numbers. The [median annual wage for production occupations was $46,990 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/home.htm), and that group still expects [about 867,700 openings each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/home.htm), largely to replace workers who leave. The [transportation and material moving group had a median of $44,350](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/home.htm) and projects [about 1.6 million openings each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/home.htm).

Those group medians hide a wide spread inside each family. A warehouse hand and an elevator mechanic are both counted as blue collar, but their pay, training and licensing have almost nothing in common. The rest of this guide breaks the groups apart job by job. If you want a shortlist built around the top earners first, our guide to [skilled trades paying six figures with no degree required](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/15-skilled-trades-six-figures-2026-no-degree) is a good companion, and our explainer on [vocational jobs and the fastest paths to steady pay](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/vocational-jobs) covers the wider set of hands-on careers.

## What Do Electricians, Plumbers and Carpenters Earn?

These three building trades are the classic entry points, and all three typically start with a high school diploma and on-the-job training. For a side-by-side comparison, our [skilled trades salary guide on what electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, welders, carpenters and machinists actually earn](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/skilled-trades-salary-guide-2026-electrician-plumber-hvac-welder-carpenter-machinist) puts these jobs in one place.

Electricians are one of the core licensed trades. The [median annual wage for electricians was $63,190 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm), and the same page projects [about 72,700 openings for electricians each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm) over the decade. Employment is projected to [grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm). Our guide to [electrician salary and how to earn more](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/electrician-salary) covers what moves that figure, and our walkthrough of the [levels of electrician](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/levels-of-electrician) explains the apprentice, journeyman and master steps.

> For each year of the program, apprentices typically receive 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training as well as some technical instruction, according to [the BLS electricians page](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm).

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a similar amount. Their [median annual wage was $63,800 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm), with [about 42,000 openings projected each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm) and [7 percent projected growth from 2025 to 2035](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm). Pipefitters and steamfitters work mostly in manufacturing, commercial and industrial settings, while plumbers handle water, gas and drain systems in homes and businesses. Our guide to [plumber salary and how to earn more](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/plumber-salary) looks at the moves that raise it.

Carpenters are a large trade too. The [median annual wage for carpenters was $60,580 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/carpenters.htm), and the same page counts [889,700 carpenter jobs in 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/carpenters.htm). Growth is slower, at [4 percent from 2025 to 2035](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/carpenters.htm), partly because [modular and prefabricated components reduce the need for carpenters to build new structures](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/carpenters.htm) on site. Carpenters typically learn on the job or through apprenticeships, and [optional programs offer certification by specialty](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/carpenters.htm) that may open more work. For one finish-carpentry niche, our breakdown of [what a cabinet installer makes](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-much-does-a-cabinet-installer-make) shows how a specialty shapes pay.

Other building trades sit nearby on the same BLS table. [Sheet metal workers had a median of $61,800, ironworkers $61,910 and painters $49,400](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/home.htm) in May 2025. Our guide to [how much painters make](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-much-do-painters-make) covers that trade in more depth.

## Which Trades Pay Close to Six Figures?

A few trades break well above the group medians, and several of them start with a long apprenticeship.

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers stand out. Their [median annual wage was $109,910 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/elevator-installers-and-repairers.htm), and [nearly all learn how to do the work through an apprenticeship](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/elevator-installers-and-repairers.htm). The catch is size, because only [about 1,900 openings are projected each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/elevator-installers-and-repairers.htm). A career typically begins with a [4-year apprenticeship program sponsored by a union, industry association, or employer](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/elevator-installers-and-repairers.htm), and most states require a license. Our guide to [elevator technician careers and how the apprenticeship pays](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/elevator-technician-career-guide) walks through the steps.

Electrical power-line installers and repairers are close behind. The [median annual wage for electrical power-line installers and repairers was $95,320 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm), and employment is projected to [grow 10 percent from 2025 to 2035](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm). Their training programs [may last up to 3 years](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm), and workers who drive heavy vehicles usually need a commercial driver's license. Pay depends heavily on employer, with [a median of $111,900 in the federal government and $103,060 in utilities](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm).

Two other high earners are worth a look. [Boilermakers had a median of $76,410](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/home.htm) with a high school diploma as typical entry, and [aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians had a median of $80,180](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/home.htm) after a postsecondary nondegree award. Our guide on [how to become an aircraft mechanic](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-to-become-aircraft-mechanic-2026) covers the school and certification path.

## What Do HVAC, Auto and Diesel Technicians Earn?

Repair technicians make up a large slice of the trades, and most of them start with a short technical program rather than a long apprenticeship.

HVAC technicians install and fix heating, cooling and refrigeration systems. The [median annual wage for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers was $61,010 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm), and employment is projected to [grow 11 percent from 2025 to 2035](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm). Their trade school programs [generally last from 6 months to 2 years](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm) and lead to a certificate or an associate's degree. Our guide to [HVAC technician salary and how to earn more](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/hvac-technician-salary) covers the specialties that pay more.

Automotive service technicians work on cars and light trucks. Their [median annual wage was $50,620 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm), with [about 66,200 openings projected each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm). Employers may require or prefer certification, and some pay for it. Our guide to [what automotive technicians make](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-much-do-automotive-technicians-make) breaks down the pay, our list of [ASE mechanic certifications that boost your salary](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/ase-mechanic-certifications-salary) explains the credentials, and our roundup of [high-paying mechanic specialties](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/high-paying-mechanic-specialties-2025) shows where to aim next. If you are starting from zero, our step by step guide on [how to become a mechanic](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-to-become-a-mechanic-2025) maps the school options.

Diesel technicians earn a higher median. The [median annual wage for diesel service technicians and mechanics was $61,770 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/diesel-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm), and while most learn on the job after high school, employers may prefer candidates from a diesel repair program. Some [might need a commercial driver's license to test-drive buses and large trucks](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/diesel-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm). Our breakdown of [what a diesel mechanic apprentice makes at each stage](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-much-does-diesel-mechanic-apprentice-make) shows how pay climbs during training.

## What Do Maintenance and Industrial Mechanics Earn?

Factories, plants and large buildings all need people who keep machines running, and this is one of the faster growing corners of the trades.

Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers and millwrights are the core of it. Their [median annual wage was $64,100 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/industrial-machinery-mechanics-and-maintenance-workers-and-millwrights.htm), employment is projected to [grow 14 percent from 2025 to 2035](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/industrial-machinery-mechanics-and-maintenance-workers-and-millwrights.htm), and the group has [about 51,900 openings projected each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/industrial-machinery-mechanics-and-maintenance-workers-and-millwrights.htm). Millwrights usually train through an apprenticeship with [at least 144 hours of relevant technical instruction and up to 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/industrial-machinery-mechanics-and-maintenance-workers-and-millwrights.htm) each year.

General maintenance work is a broader and lower paid starting point. [General maintenance and repair workers had a median of $49,590](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/home.htm) in May 2025 with a high school diploma as typical entry. Our list of [high-paying repair and maintenance jobs](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/high-paying-maintenance-jobs) shows where the better paid specialties sit.

Training for industrial machinery mechanics [may include electronics and computer programming](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/industrial-machinery-mechanics-and-maintenance-workers-and-millwrights.htm), which is a bridge toward controls work. Our guide on [how to become a PLC technician](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-to-become-a-plc-technician) explains that path.

Energy work belongs here too. [Wind turbine technicians had a median of $64,120 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/wind-turbine-technicians.htm), and they typically need a postsecondary nondegree award before employer training on specific turbines.

## What Do Welders and Machinists Earn?

Welding and machining are production trades, and both reward precision and certification more than a long apprenticeship.

Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers had a [median annual wage of $53,750 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm). Growth is slow, at [2 percent from 2025 to 2035](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm), yet the field still expects [about 40,300 openings each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm) as workers retire or move on. Some states and localities license welders, and some employers require specific certification for particular jobs. Our guide to [welder salary and how to earn more](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/welder-salary) covers the specialties and settings that pay most.

Machinists and tool and die makers work with CNC machines and CAD/CAM software. The [median annual wage for machinists was $58,750 and for tool and die makers $64,050](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/machinists-and-tool-and-die-makers.htm) in May 2025. Employment is projected to [decline 1 percent from 2025 to 2035](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/machinists-and-tool-and-die-makers.htm), but there are still [about 30,400 openings projected each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/machinists-and-tool-and-die-makers.htm), all expected to come from the need to replace workers who leave. Certification is optional and can help with advancement. Our guide on [how to get machinist certification and advance your manufacturing career](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/machinist-certification-manufacturing-career) covers the credentials.

## What Do Truck Drivers and Warehouse Workers Earn?

Transport and warehouse work is the largest hiring pool in this guide, and the entry bar is the lowest.

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers had a [median annual wage of $58,640 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm), and the occupation is projected to have [about 214,500 openings each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm). Drivers usually attend a professional truck driving school, either a private school or a [community college program that lasts between 3 and 6 months](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm), and every long-haul driver needs a commercial driver's license. Drivers are often paid by the mile plus bonuses. Our guide to [how much truck drivers make by route, rig and region](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-much-do-truck-drivers-make) covers the pay side, and our [complete truck driver career guide](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/truck-driver-career-guide-salary) covers getting started.

Warehouse work is a quick way in. [Hand laborers and material movers had a median of $38,220 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/hand-laborers-and-material-movers.htm), with [about 904,200 openings projected each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/hand-laborers-and-material-movers.htm). There are usually no formal education requirements, and workers [typically learn through on-the-job training that lasts 1 month or less](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/hand-laborers-and-material-movers.htm). Moving up to equipment pays more, since [material moving machine operators had a median of $46,670](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/home.htm). Our guide on [what a forklift driver makes](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-much-does-forklift-driver-make) covers certification costs and growth paths.

## How Do Trade Apprenticeships Work?

Apprenticeship is the main door into the licensed building trades, and it is a job, not a class. You earn while you train.

A [Registered Apprenticeship gives you paid work experience with a mentor, progressive wage increases, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/employers/registered-apprenticeship-program). These programs are [approved and validated by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/employers/registered-apprenticeship-program). To find one, the Labor Department tells job seekers to [search the Apprenticeship Job Finder and apply directly with the employer or program sponsor](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/career-seekers).

Length depends on the trade. Electricians and plumbers usually train in a [4- or 5-year apprenticeship with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm), plus technical instruction in safety, codes and blueprint reading. Millwrights typically take [a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/industrial-machinery-mechanics-and-maintenance-workers-and-millwrights.htm), and power-line workers [reach the journey level after 3 or 4 years of working](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm).

Sponsors vary. For electricians, [unions and contractor associations sponsor apprenticeship programs, and requirements vary by state and locality](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm). Basic entry rules for millwright programs include a [minimum age of 18](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/industrial-machinery-mechanics-and-maintenance-workers-and-millwrights.htm) and a high school diploma or equivalent. Our guide on [how to become an electrician and what the apprenticeship involves](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-to-launch-an-electrician-career) shows the process in one trade from start to finish.

Pay during training starts lower and rises. The BLS notes that [apprentices receive less pay than fully trained electricians, but their pay increases as they learn to do more](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm). If you are choosing between college and a trade, our guide to [university or trade school and how to choose](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/university-or-trade-school-career-path) lays out the trade-offs, and our explainer on [how long vocational programs take](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/average-duration-of-vocational-programs) helps you plan the timeline.

## Which Licenses and Certifications Do the Trades Need?

This is where jurisdiction matters most. In the US, states and sometimes cities grant trade licenses, federal agencies set a few national rules, and private bodies offer optional certifications.

Electricians need a state license in most places. [Most states require electricians to pass a test and be licensed](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm), and requirements vary by state. Texas is a clear example, where the [Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation](https://tdlr.texas.gov/electricians/elec.htm) requires anyone who performs, or offers to perform, non-exempt electrical work to be licensed and to do that work through a licensed electrical contractor. Our guide on [how to become a licensed electrician](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-to-become-a-licensed-electrician) covers the exam steps, and our page on [how to become a master electrician](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-to-become-a-master-electrician-and-advance-your-career) covers the top license.

Plumbers face state and local rules. [Most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed, often after 2 to 5 years of experience and an exam](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm), and some states require master plumber status to get a contractor's license.

HVAC technicians need a federal certificate for refrigerants. Under the Clean Air Act, the [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires technicians who service equipment that could release refrigerants to pass an EPA-approved Section 608 test](https://www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification-requirements), and the test must be given by an EPA-approved certifying organization. [Some states and localities also require HVAC technicians to be licensed](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm) on top of that.

> Section 608 Technician Certification credentials do not expire, according to [the EPA Section 608 certification requirements page](https://www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification-requirements).

Truck drivers need a commercial driver's license from their home state. The [Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license) runs the federal Commercial Driver's License Program, but [FMCSA does not issue CDLs, and state governments are responsible for issuing them](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license). First-time Class A or Class B applicants must also complete [Entry-Level Driver Training, a rule that is not retroactive for drivers issued a CDL before February 7, 2022](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/entry-level-driver-training-eldt). Federal rules also require CDL drivers to [pass a physical exam every two years](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm).

[Most states require elevator and escalator installers and repairers to be licensed](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/elevator-installers-and-repairers.htm), and [welders must be licensed in some states and localities](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm). Before you pay for any program, check your own state licensing board and confirm the program is recognized there.

## Which Trades Are Growing Fastest?

Growth tells you where employers will compete for workers over the next decade.

Clean energy leads the jobs in this guide. [Solar photovoltaic installer employment is projected to grow 37 percent from 2025 to 2035](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/solar-photovoltaic-installers.htm), and [wind turbine technician employment 30 percent](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/wind-turbine-technicians.htm). Both start from small bases, with only [about 4,200 solar installer openings](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/solar-photovoltaic-installers.htm) and [about 1,500 wind technician openings](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/wind-turbine-technicians.htm) projected each year.

Several mainstream trades also grow much faster than average. Industrial machinery mechanics and millwrights are projected to [grow 14 percent](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/industrial-machinery-mechanics-and-maintenance-workers-and-millwrights.htm), HVAC technicians [11 percent](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm), power-line workers [10 percent](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm) and electricians [9 percent](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm), all from 2025 to 2035.

Growth is not the whole story. Truck drivers are projected to [grow 4 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm), yet the occupation still has [about 214,500 openings projected each year](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm) because it is so large. For a job seeker, openings often matter more than the growth rate.

## How Can You Raise Your Pay in the Trades?

Trade pay rises in a few predictable ways, and most of them happen on the job rather than back in school.

Finish the apprenticeship and get the next license. The clearest jumps come from moving from apprentice to journey level to master, because each step lets you work with less supervision, and licensed plumbers [may advance to become a master plumber, supervisor, or project manager](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm).

Pick your employer type with care. The same trade pays very differently by industry. [Electricians had a median of $79,820 in government (excluding state and local education and hospitals) and $61,570 at electrical contractors](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm), and [HVAC technicians had a median of $71,190 in wholesale trade and $60,030 at plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractors](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heating-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration-mechanics-and-installers.htm).

Add a certification or specialty. Endorsements, manufacturer training and specialty certificates can widen the jobs you qualify for. Our guide to [skills training programs and how to choose one that raises your pay](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/skills-training) helps you pick one that pays back.

Negotiate the whole offer. Much of trade work is hourly, so overtime rules, shift premiums, tool allowances and travel pay can matter as much as the base rate. Our guide on [hourly vs salary and how to compare two offers](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/hourly-vs-salary) helps with that math, our walkthrough of [how to negotiate a job offer once it is in writing](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-to-negotiate-a-job-offer) gives the wording, and our list of [things you can negotiate when the salary will not move](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/things-to-negotiate-besides-salary-2026) covers the extras.

Lacey Kaelani, [Metaintro](https://www.metaintro.com)'s CEO, puts it this way: Your salary is decided by the homework you do before the offer call, not the call itself. In the trades that homework is the license you hold next and the employer you choose.

## What Do These Numbers Leave Out?

Every figure in this guide is a national median, so half of workers earn more and half earn less. Your own pay depends on your state, your city, your employer and how far along you are in your training.

The figures come from a federal wage survey of employees, and that survey [does not cover the self-employed or owners and partners in unincorporated firms](https://www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm). That matters in the trades, because self-employed electricians and owner-operator truck drivers fall outside it. The survey also counts [wages and salaries only, without nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance](https://www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm), so union pension contributions and health insurance will not show up here.

Some job titles are grouped. The plumber figure blends plumbers with pipefitters and steamfitters, and the industrial machinery figure blends mechanics, maintenance workers and millwrights, so read the detailed guides before assuming one number describes your path.

Finally, these are US figures and US licensing rules. If you are outside the US, the training, licensing bodies and pay will differ.

### What this means for your next move

The best trade for you is rarely the one with the highest median on the page. It is the one whose apprenticeship you can actually get into and finish, in a part of the country where the license travels with you, with a clear next credential above it. Pick the trade first, then find a registered program near you and treat the apprenticeship as your first real job. In the trades, the people who keep adding licenses and specialties are the ones whose pay keeps climbing.

## Related Articles

- [What Is a Journeyman Electrician](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/what-is-a-journeyman-electrician)
- [How to Become an Electrician's Assistant](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-to-become-an-electricians-assistant)
- [How to Become a Commercial Electrician](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-to-become-a-commercial-electrician)
- [What an Automation and Controls Technician Does and What It Pays](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/automation-and-controls-technician)
- [Service Technician Salaries, What the Data Actually Shows](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/service-technician-salary)
- [How Much Do Motorcycle Mechanics Make](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-much-do-motorcycle-mechanics-make)
- [How Much Does an Industrial Painter Make](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-much-does-industrial-painter-make)
- [How Much Do Oil Rig Drillers Make](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-much-do-oil-drillers-make)
- [Wastewater Treatment Operator Careers and What the License Is Worth](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/wastewater-treatment-technician-career-guide)
- [How to Ask for a Raise](https://www.metaintro.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-a-raise)

## People Also Asked

### Q: What is the highest paying skilled trade without a degree?

A: Among the trades in this guide, elevator and escalator installers and repairers have the highest median at [$109,910 in May 2025](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/elevator-installers-and-repairers.htm), and they typically enter with a high school diploma and a 4-year apprenticeship. Electrical power-line installers and repairers have a median of [$95,320](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm).

### Q: How long does a trade apprenticeship take?

A: It depends on the trade. Electricians and plumbers usually train in a [4- or 5-year apprenticeship](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.htm), while power-line programs [may last up to 3 years](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/line-installers-and-repairers.htm). Apprentices are paid during training, and their pay rises as they learn.

### Q: Who issues trade licenses in the US?

A: States, and in some cases cities, issue trade licenses for work such as electrical and plumbing. Federal agencies set a few national rules, for example the [EPA refrigerant certification for HVAC technicians](https://www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification-requirements), while [state governments issue commercial driver's licenses](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license).

Ready to level up? [Metaintro](https://www.metaintro.com) brings together 50M jobs in one place. [Create a free profile](https://www.metaintro.com/signup) and start your search today.

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