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Working a corporate job isn’t the only way to create a stable career. Learning a skilled trade is an extremely underrated route that offers many high-paying trade job options.
Not only that, these jobs are in high demand! There is a growing skills gap in several trades due to many tradespeople aging out of their careers and fewer people choosing to work those jobs. For instance, Deloitte reported that 1.9 million skilled trade jobs in manufacturing are expected to go unfilled by 2033, an industry that accounts for $2.3 trillion of the US’s GDP and supports hundreds of local economies across the U.S.
Combine that with the growing demand for trade workers in other areas, such as wind turbine technicians (growth rate 60%), electricians (growth rate 11%), and HVAC technicians (growth rate 9%), and you’ll see a massive opportunity in these top jobs of the future.
What’s great about these roles is that they don’t require a 4-year bachelor's degree or a hefty college bill. Many positions offer the ability to earn while you learn through apprenticeships and other on-the-job training opportunities, and tend to pay well with great benefits due to many being union jobs (although not all trades have union representation).
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In this guide, you’ll learn what qualifies as a trade job, which one is right for you, and how to enter that trade.
We also included salary data that we’ve collected from the past 3+ years of interviews, data from over 13,000 salaries that we’ve collected in our online Salary Database (don’t forget to join and add your salary too!), and job data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
*Keep in mind that our Salary Database currently doesn’t have a way to distinguish between base pay and total compensation. Our salary data may also include other compensation, such as bonuses, commissions, stock options, equity, or other forms of pay in addition to their yearly salary.
List of Trades to Explore (and How to Get Into Them)
A trade job is a job that requires a specialized skillset and is usually hands-on in industries like construction, manufacturing, and transportation. Training programs and apprenticeships are the common routes to break in since many of the roles don't require a degree.
Beyond the familiar trades, there are also lesser-known paths in fields like healthcare, culinary arts, technology, and cosmetology that offer similar skilled and high-demand roles. For example, just like an electrical line worker is a trade worker, so are tattoo artists and manicurists.
Let’s explore each industry, the roles available and their expected pay, and how to get into each. If you don’t know which trade job you want to explore, take our free quiz to help you decide which one suits you best! 👇
Construction
Construction trades are the jobs that make our modern world possible. They involve expertise in areas like building (of course), masonry, plumbing, carpentry, and installing flooring and other building components.
It's a big deal. Constructing our cities and communities would be impossible without them. The great thing about this trade is that it also has many roles available in high-paying government jobs to fill the demand of ongoing building contracts.
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No Degree Required (Apprenticeship, On-the-Job Training, or Licensing) | Certificate or Trade School Preferred |
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How to get into it: Start with a high school diploma or GED and an apprenticeship program. These can be found through local trade unions, such as United Association Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders and Service Techs (UA), the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IW), the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC), and other North American unions. Opportunities can also be found through construction companies and some send their employees to school for free. If you want to operate heavy machinery, look at NCCCO certifications as well.
Potential pay:
Get started with these courses or programs:
- Construction Techniques and Practices Specialization (use as a way to explore this field, but look for your local construction trades union to get into their apprenticeship program)
- Construction Management Specialization
Manufacturing
Manufacturing jobs create the products we know and love, like the cars we drive and the appliances we use. They focus on producing those products, assembling them, and maintaining them.
These are your welders and machinists, and they utilize skills such as equipment operation and mechanical aptitude to produce these high-quality products.
No Degree Required (Apprenticeship, On-the-Job Training, or Licensing) | Certificate or Trade School Preferred |
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How to get into it: Many manufacturing trades offer apprenticeships with the requirement of a high school diploma or GED. You can find these through your local trade unions, such as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and the International Union of Allied, Novelty and Production Workers, and manufacturing companies by applying directly. There are also trade school programs and certifications required, such as NIMS.
Potential pay:
Get started with these courses or programs:
Automotive and Transportation
While manufacturing jobs might help create the car you drive, automotive and transportation jobs make use of those vehicles. These trade jobs involve repairing and maintaining those vehicles and transportation systems.
This work is extremely important to keeping transportation safe, covering everything from cars and trucks to buses, planes, and even rail equipment.
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No Degree Required (Apprenticeship, On-the-Job Training, or Licensing) | Certificate or Trade School Preferred |
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How to get into it: A high school diploma or GED is the minimum requirement, but hands-on training through an apprenticeship or program focused on automotive or diesel technology is a recommended next step. We interviewed a mechanic who went to high school for half the day and trade school the other half, where both counted for high school credit. This helped them start working right away after high school.
Apprenticeships can be found through dealerships, repair shops, and unions like the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART). Certifications like ASE are often required or highly recommended.
Potential pay:
Get started with these courses or programs:
Energy and Utilities
Energy and utilities trade jobs involve essential services like electricity and gas. The most common role you often hear about are electricians (which you’ll also see listed under the ‘Construction’ section above, but it also falls under ‘Energy’), but there are several others that aren't as well-known and still pay well, such as wind turbine technicians.
These roles have a huge responsibility for ensuring reliable infrastructure and safety, and often require skills in equipment operation and power system monitoring.
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No Degree Required (Apprenticeship, On-the-Job Training, or Licensing) | Certificate or Trade School Preferred |
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How to get into it: A high school diploma or GED is a great starting point, then look for specialized training through apprenticeships, technical schools, or utility-sponsored programs. Licensing and education requirements vary by role and state.
For example, electricians can find apprenticeships through their local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) union and typically need a state electrician license. An electrician apprentice we interviewed is making $74 an hour! Look for your state’s requirements and opportunities through your state’s Labor and Industries website, local union hall (or website), utility companies, and workforce development centers.
Potential pay:
Get started with these courses or programs:
- Introduction to Electronics
- Electric Power Systems
- Solar Energy for Engineers, Architects and Code Inspectors Specialization
- Renewable Energy Specialization
Technology and IT Infrastructure
Our technology infrastructure highly depends on trade workers to install and maintain hardware and networks. Tech trade workers often possess high-income skills, such as troubleshooting and reverse engineering, which they can learn through technical schools or programs. And they can still find high-paying tech roles, even without a fancy Bachelor's degree in computer science.
Thanks to them, company networks stay secure, public networks are accessible, and our personal devices can safely exist on both of them.
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No Degree Required (Apprenticeship, On-the-Job Training, or Licensing) | Certificate, Trade School, or Associate Degree Preferred |
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How to get into it: A high school diploma or GED, then gain skills through trade schools, community colleges, or certification programs. Also, look for opportunities through technical trade unions, such as the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). Entry-level roles in IT support, networking, or cybersecurity often require certifications like CompTIA A+, Network+, or Cisco’s CCNA, which can be earned through online learning.
🎓 Need help paying for school? Check out our top student loan picks to compare options and find what best fits your future.
Potential pay:
Get started with these courses or programs:
Healthcare
Healthcare trades encompass many different roles, such as pharmacy techs, dental assistants, nurses, and several others. Several of these roles don't require a 4-year college degree and focus on training through certifications and associate degree programs.
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No Degree Required (Apprenticeship, On-the-Job Training, or Licensing) | Certificate, Trade School, or Associate Degree Preferred |
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How to get into it: After getting a high school diploma or GED, pursue training based on your specific healthcare trade. Options range from on-the-job training for roles like Home Health Aide to formal certificate or associate degree programs for more advanced positions. Many roles require or prefer certifications or licenses, such as CPhT for Pharmacy Technicians, ARRT for Radiologic Technicians, or state licenses for LPNs, dental hygienists, and other allied health professionals.
Potential pay:
Get started with these courses or programs:
- Foundation for Assisting in Home Care
- Pharmacy Technician Fundamentals Specialization
- Visualizing the Living Body: Diagnostic Imaging
Personal Services (Cosmetology, Lifestyle, and Culinary)
Personal service trades focus on making us feel good through skills in areas like cosmetology and hair, baking and cooking, and fitness training (to name a few). Many of these would also be considered creative jobs, but also require some technical expertise with certification or licensing to provide quality services to clients.
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No Degree Required (Apprenticeship, On-the-Job Training, or Licensing) | Certificate or Trade School Preferred |
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How to get into it: A high school diploma or GED, then enroll in a state-approved training program or trade school for your chosen field. Most personal service careers require certification or licenses, such as a state cosmetology license. The American Association of Career Schools has a great resource that shows license requirements by state for many of these trades.
Potential pay:
Get started with these courses or programs:
- Introduction to Cosmetic and Skincare Science
- Equitable Stage Makeup and Hair
- Getting Started as a Personal Fitness Trainer
Public Safety and Infrastructure
Public safety and infrastructure trades work on keeping communities safe and running smoothly. For example, they may work on maintaining systems, like a waste management system.
While many of these roles have entry-level work available with little requirements, there are many that also require certifications and specialized training programs.
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No Degree Required (Apprenticeship, On-the-Job Training, or Licensing) | Certificate or Trade School Preferred |
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How to get into it: A high school diploma or GED is enough to get started, as many entry-level positions don’t require a degree. However, you might need to complete any required training or certifications depending on the role. For example, a sanitation worker may not need a certification, but an environmental technician may need to be a certified environmental specialist.
Potential pay:
Get started with these courses or programs:
How to Pick The Right Trade Job for You
Before you rush into the trade that you think pays the most, take some time to think about which one you would enjoy the most and best fits your work style (like your skills and preferences).
Matching your strengths to the skills required in the different trades can help you find a path that feels natural and still pays well. To get started, you can take our free 1-minute trade jobs quiz to discover which roles align with your personality and abilities! 👇
Don’t stop there. Explore different trades you’re interested in through job fairs (like the Washington Women in Trades Fair), free or low-cost short courses through course providers like Coursera, informational interviews with real-world insights on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, volunteering, or shadowing professionals on the job. Any of these steps will help get a better feel for what to expect in your chosen area.
Starting a Career in Skilled Trades
I don't care how qualified or unqualified you are right now. We all have somewhere we have start from.
If you’re still in high school, you can actually start there, seriously! As we learned from some of our past interviews, many trade workers actually started trade programs while in high school through half-day technical and trade schools that also accounted for high school credit.
If you’re out of high school, no worries. You can start from here too. Use resources available to you, such as the guide you’re reading now and the Explore The Trades website, to find apprenticeships, programs, and license requirements for the trade job you’re interested in.
Browse these union directories for more information and details on how to apply for an apprenticeship:
These same union directories can also help you find trade jobs available through your local union, along with our very own Salary Transparent Job Board, Union Hiring Hall, USAJobs.gov, and FBIJobs.gov job boards.
All you need to do is take that first step, use these resources we’ve gathered for you, and start reaching out to local unions, schools, or companies. We’re here in your corner cheering you on, as always!
We also have a wealth of resources available to you as you navigate your career, including:
- How to Find Your Market Rate
- Most Common Interview Questions and Answers
- Salary Negotiation Scripts
- How to Ask for a Raise
Until next time, stay awesome, stay strong, and keep advocating for yourself no matter what! I’m Daniella Flores, a former engineer who writes about tech, money, and careers, and current member of the CNET Money Expert Review Board. I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the Salary Transparent Street blog (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) You can also follow me on Linkedin. Chat soon!
If this guide helps you land a higher-paying job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com
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