The Highest Paying Trade Jobs

Key takeaways

Construction, health care, and technology are key industries for high-paying trade jobs.

• The US job market is facing a shortage of skilled trade workers, prompting the federal government in April 2025 to begin modernizing workforce programs to prepare more workers for high-paying trade jobs. [1]

• Examples of high-paying trade jobs include licensed practical nurse, aircraft mechanic, electrician, solar installer, construction manager, detective, flight attendant, and locomotive engineer.

• You can complete your training and education for many of these roles at vocational schools or community colleges.

Explore some in-demand and high-paying trade careers you might consider and how to receive the necessary training. If you’re ready to develop in-demand skills, consider enrolling in the Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificate. You’ll have the chance to learn how to create a responsive website using hypertext markup language (HTML), cascading style sheets (CSS), and JavaScript in as little as seven months. By the end, you’ll have earned a career credential that you can add to your resume or LinkedIn profile.

What is a trade job?

Trade jobs require skills and expertise you obtain through training rather than a degree program. While some trades may have college classes you can take, these jobs typically don't require a four-year degree. Instead, you can learn the skills and abilities by completing programs at a vocational school, an apprenticeship, or specialized, on-the-job training.

According to The White House, the US is facing a shortage of skilled trade workers, projected to grow to close to half a million by 2035. [1] This prompted the federal government in April 2025 to begin modernizing workforce programs to prepare more workers for high-paying trade jobs. [1] For instance, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the construction and extraction industry will grow faster than average between 2024 and 2034, with 649,300 job openings each year. [2]

Depending on the job, you might also complete a certificate program or get a two-year degree. Because training programs for trade jobs typically take anywhere from six months to two years to complete, these roles can be easier (and faster) to enter compared to jobs that require four years or more of education. Additionally, trades offer high-earning potential, with many in-demand trade careers.

Some common trade careers include advanced manufacturing, carpentry, and various construction careers, from welding to masonry, electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and transportation mechanics and repair. High-paying trade jobs include various professions, ranging from construction manager to medical technologist, providing multiple options to suit your skills and interests. 

Read more: Trade School vs. College: How Are They Different?

What are the highest-paying trade jobs from job search websites?

Indeed’s list of the top 12 highest-paying trade jobs prominently features building trades and health care roles. [3] Some roles to consider from their list include licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists, construction managers, and dental hygienists. Other occupations listed include ultrasonographer, solar installer, real estate appraiser, and electrician.

While construction and health care are popular in the list, technology careers also offer various opportunities, many of which you can enter after teaching yourself the skills, taking online courses, and completing trade education. However, roles such as website developers can also pursue training in a traditional college setting. Two-year degrees and graduate programs both exist in website development and applications. 

Other in-demand trade careers offer an opportunity to continue your education later to advance. For example, a licensed practical nurse may decide to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program to become a registered nurse, which can take an additional two to four years of study.

Salaries of the 12 highest-paying skilled trade jobs from Indeed

Indeed mentions the following 12 high-paying trade jobs. [3] All salary information is the median annual salary from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of May 2024: 

1. Construction manager: $106,980 

2. Dental hygienist: $94,260 

3. Ultrasonographer: $89,340

4. Respiratory therapist: $80,450 

5. Aircraft mechanic: $79,140

6. Real estate appraiser: $65,420

7. Cable technician: $64,310

8. Industrial mechanic: $63,510

9. Wind turbine technician: $62,580

10. Electrician: $62,350 

11. Licensed practical nurse: $62,340 

12. Solar installer: $51,860

What are the highest-paying trade jobs based on BLS data by education level?

Job search websites are one of many options for finding more information about salaries and education requirements for the job you’re considering pursuing. The BLS Occupation Finder allows you to search by education level, level of on-the-job training, number of new jobs expected, and average wages. [4] The BLS website also offers in-depth details about the type of education and experience needed for job roles, making it an excellent resource when deciding on a career path.

A search for high-paying non-managerial jobs requiring only a high school diploma, with job growth projected to remain steady or increase, yields several options. Some of the in-demand trade careers to consider, along with the median salaries of each, include:

*All salary information below is the median salary from the BLS as of May 2024.

1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers: $106,580

2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers: $92,560

3. Subway and streetcar operators: $84,830

4. Signal and track switch repairers: $83,600

5. Occupational health and safety technicians: $78,900

6. Police officers and detectives: $77,270

7. Locomotive engineers: $75,870

8. Fire inspectors: $75,480

9. Telecommunications line installers and repairers: $69,040

10. Flight attendants: $67,130

11. Sales representatives: $64,600

12. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters: $62,970

Where can you get training? 

You have many potential resources to explore. You can obtain free or low-cost training and education from vocational trade schools and community colleges. Trade schools have been around for decades and often partner with high schools to train learners in conjunction with the general high school curriculum, similar to Advanced Placement (AP) classes. College-bound students may earn credit toward their degrees, and learners may obtain certifications to help fast-track their careers. 

JFF advocates for more education, beginning at the high school level. As the US infrastructure continues aging and expanding, and the workforce continues aging, the demand for skilled trade workers will continue growing. Trades power the entire country, installing and maintaining electric and HVAC systems, powering factories and manufacturing complexes, aiding in patient care in various health settings, and transporting goods. Building and maintaining the pipeline of skilled workers using hands-on, practical learning is essential. 

For instance, Bronx Community College in New York City offers a variety of certificate programs and associate degrees that can lead to a skilled trade job within two years or less. [5] Sample certificate programs include licensed practical nursing, bilingual care, and automotive mechanics. Sample skilled trades associate degrees include media and digital production, medical lab technician, and environmental technology. Community colleges often offer more affordable options than for-profit schools for those interested in pursuing a two-year degree. 

Popular options to get relevant trade-related training include:

• Career colleges and training centers

• Vocational or trade schools

• Technical institutes

• Community colleges

• Vocational programs offered by the US military

Which trade gets paid the most?

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers rank as one of the highest-paying trade jobs, with salaries exceeding $100,000. According to the US BLS, this trade role earns a median salary of $106,580 per year [6].

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