Skilled trade careers: pay, apprenticeships and outlook
The skilled trades cover construction, installation, maintenance and repair work where competence is proved through apprenticeship and licensing rather than a degree. Most paths pay you from the first year: you start at a share of the journeyworker rate and step up as hours and coursework accumulate.
Pay in the trades spreads widely with experience, licensing and overtime, so the range on each occupation page matters as much as the median. The list below ranks every trade occupation by median annual pay.
- Occupations
- 117
- Pay range
- $37,710–$109,910
- Top median
- $109,910
Skilled trades occupations, ranked by median pay
Median annual wage, national, BLS May 2025.
Elevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersGrowingMedium preparation needed · 23,790 employed$109,910median / yrElectrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelayGrowingMedium preparation needed · 20,720 employed$103,020median / yrElectrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 131,070 employed$95,320median / yrSignal and Track Switch RepairersMedium preparation needed · 8,720 employed$92,460median / yrElectrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation EquipmentGrowingMedium preparation needed · 6,940 employed$84,890median / yrAvionics TechniciansGrowingMedium preparation needed · 18,830 employed$82,280median / yrFirst-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersGrowingMedium preparation needed · 812,210 employed$79,920median / yrSolar Energy Installation ManagersGrowingMedium preparation needed · 812,210 employed$79,920median / yrAircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansMedium preparation needed · 138,090 employed$79,870median / yrFirst-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersMedium preparation needed · 617,500 employed$79,860median / yrRoof Bolters, MiningLittle to some preparation needed · 2,160 employed$78,540median / yrBoilermakersLittle to some preparation needed · 10,190 employed$76,410median / yrTerrazzo Workers and FinishersLittle to some preparation needed · 1,180 employed$76,170median / yrConstruction and Building InspectorsMedium preparation needed · 146,720 employed$74,690median / yrEnergy AuditorsMedium preparation needed · 146,720 employed$74,690median / yrLoading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground MiningLittle to some preparation needed · 5,930 employed$74,500median / yrControl and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorMedium preparation needed · 48,240 employed$74,340median / yrTelecommunications Line Installers and RepairersLittle to some preparation needed · 97,720 employed$74,330median / yrElectrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentMedium preparation needed · 65,010 employed$74,090median / yrPile Driver OperatorsLittle to some preparation needed · 2,310 employed$73,300median / yrCommercial DiversGrowingMedium preparation needed · 3,450 employed$72,990median / yrUnderground Mining Machine Operators, All OtherPreparation level not rated · 3,180 employed$70,130median / yrRail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsLittle to some preparation needed · 19,580 employed$70,070median / yrPrecision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All OtherPreparation level not rated · 9,400 employed$68,990median / yrTapersLittle to some preparation needed · 12,840 employed$68,270median / yrRotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasLittle to some preparation needed · 12,600 employed$67,890median / yrRail Car RepairersLittle to some preparation needed · 21,350 employed$67,530median / yrWatch and Clock RepairersMedium preparation needed · 1,310 employed$67,230median / yrMillwrightsLittle to some preparation needed · 40,330 employed$65,700median / yrMobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesGrowingMedium preparation needed · 176,600 employed$65,510median / yrIndustrial Machinery MechanicsGrowingMedium preparation needed · 439,640 employed$64,520median / yrWind Turbine Service TechniciansGrowingMedium preparation needed · 9,980 employed$64,120median / yrTelecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersMedium preparation needed · 140,920 employed$63,890median / yrPlumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersGrowingMedium preparation needed · 465,840 employed$63,800median / yrSolar Thermal Installers and TechniciansGrowingMedium preparation needed · 465,840 employed$63,800median / yrRadio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and RepairersGrowingMedium preparation needed · 11,140 employed$63,520median / yrElectriciansGrowingMedium preparation needed · 757,220 employed$63,190median / yrStructural Iron and Steel WorkersLittle to some preparation needed · 68,380 employed$62,780median / yrRiggersLittle to some preparation needed · 22,530 employed$62,640median / yrBrickmasons and BlockmasonsLittle to some preparation needed · 52,550 employed$62,120median / yr
Fastest growing skilled trades occupations
Projected employment growth, 2024–34.
- Wind Turbine Service Techniciansgrowing much faster than average+50%
- Solar Photovoltaic Installersgrowing much faster than average+42%
- Medical Equipment Repairersgrowing much faster than average+13%
- Electriciansgrowing much faster than average+9%
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installersgrowing much faster than average+8%
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairersgrowing faster than average+7%
- Roofersgrowing faster than average+6%
- Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairersgrowing faster than average+5%