Not sure how to get into a skilled trade? This guide breaks it all down – the different trades and skills required, which one is right for you, and how to start getting your hands dirty (or perfectly manicured).
May 28, 2025
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Daniella Flores
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 jobs 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 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.
Trade jobs are hands-on careers that require specialized training in a specific skill or craft, can often be found in industries like construction, manufacturing, and transportation, and many provide high-paying opportunities without a degree.
Beyond the familiar trades, there are also lesser-known paths in fields like healthcare, culinary arts, cosmetology, and technology that offer similar skilled and high-demand roles. Just like an electrical line worker is a trade worker, so are tattoo artists.
Let’s explore each industry, typical roles available, 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 trade jobs involve hands-on expertise in areas such as building, masonry, plumbing, carpentry, and installation for flooring and other building components. These workers are responsible for turning architectural plans into safe and functional buildings. 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.
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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 then enter 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.
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Manufacturing trade jobs focus on the production, assembly, and maintenance of products. These are your welders, machinists, and assemblers. These roles are essential for creating everything from machinery to consumer goods, and utilize skills such as equipment operation and mechanical aptitude to produce 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. Apprenticeships can be found through 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.
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Automotive and transportation trade jobs involve skilled work repairing, maintaining, and operating a wide range of vehicles and transportation systems. These roles are 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: These positions typically require a high school diploma or GED, then hands-on training through an apprenticeship or program focused on automotive or diesel technology. 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.
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Energy and utilities trade jobs involve essential services like electricity, water, 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 are lesser-known and pay well, such as wind turbine technicians. These roles are crucial 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.
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Our technology infrastructure highly depends on trade workers to install and maintain technical hardware and networks. They often possess high-income skills, such as troubleshooting and reverse engineering, and have many high-paying tech jobs available to them because of it. Thanks to them, company networks can stay secure, public networks can be accessible, and our personal devices can exist on either 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: Start with 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.
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Healthcare trades encompass many different roles, such as pharmacy techs, dental assistants, and nurses. Many of these roles require specialized training, certifications, and associate degrees to ensure effective care and compliance with health regulations.
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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 strongly prefer certification or licensure, such as CPhT for Pharmacy Technicians, ARRT for Radiologic Technicians, or state licenses for Licensed Practical Nurses, Dental Hygienists, and other allied health professionals.
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Personal service trades focus on enhancing well-being and lifestyle through skills in areas like cosmetology and hair, baking and cooking, and fitness training. 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: Begin with a high school diploma or GED, then enroll in a state-approved training program or trade school for your chosen field, whether that’s cosmetology, barbering, culinary arts, or fitness training. Most personal service careers require certification or licensure, 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.
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Public safety and infrastructure trades involve protecting communities and maintaining systems like waste management and environmental services. While many of these roles have entry-level work available with little requirements, there are many that also require certifications and specialized training.
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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 will 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.
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Choosing the right trade starts with understanding your own interests, skills, and physical preferences, whether you enjoy working with your hands, solving technical problems, helping others, or being outdoors.
Matching your strengths to the skills required in different trades can help you find a path that feels both natural and rewarding. 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 like you’ll find on our YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, volunteering, or shadowing professionals on the job. These steps can help you make an informed and confident decision about your future career.
To successfully kick off your trade career, start where you are. If you’re still in high school, you can actually start there – really! 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 for your success!
We also have a wealth of resources available to you as you navigate your career, including finding your market rate, interview questions and answers to prepare for, salary negotiation scripts and myths, how to ask for a raise, and more!
Until next time, stay awesome, stay strong, and keep advocating for yourself no matter what! I’m Daniella, a former engineer who writes about tech, money, and careers, a current member of the CNET Money Expert Review Board, and original founder of the award-winning blog and podcast for leveling up your money, career, and side hustles, I Like to Dabble and Remote Work Bestie. 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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