Quick answer: which trades pay the most?
By national median pay, the top three are elevator installers and repairers ($109,910), electrical power-line installers ($95,320) and boilermakers ($76,410). Electricians ($63,190) and plumbers ($63,800) sit in the middle of this list, with much larger numbers of openings each year.
These are medians for workers at every experience level, so they are not what a beginner earns in year one. Almost every trade at the top of the list is learned through a paid, multi-year apprenticeship, which is why the real question is usually "which training route can I get into and afford," not only "which number is biggest."
The 15 highest paying trades, ranked by BLS median pay
Wages are national medians for May 2025. Growth and openings are BLS projections for 2025 to 2035. Training comes from each trade's BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook page. Scroll sideways on a phone to see every column.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Figures were checked against the BLS pages on October 24, 2026. Related detail: how we use this data.
What these numbers do and do not tell you
- ✓Verified from BLS: the national median pay, projected growth, annual openings and the typical training described in the table.
- ✓Not a starting wage: a median is the midpoint for every worker in the occupation, from first-year apprentices to people with decades of experience.
- ✓Not a local wage: pay differs by state and metro area (see the state comparison below), and also by union status, employer, specialty and overtime.
- ✓Not a promise of a job: openings are national averages, and many come from workers retiring or changing occupations, not only new demand.
- ✓Not every trade: welders ($53,750), painters and others fall outside this list. See the full comparison tool for more.
When this guide gives an estimate rather than a BLS figure, it says so. In this version there are no estimated pay ranges in the table.
Pay versus job outlook: they do not always move together
The highest median is not always the best bet. Boilermakers rank third on pay, but BLS projects employment to decline 2% and only about 700 openings a year, so the number of places to get in is small. Elevator installers earn the most, with about 1,900 openings a year, a small field where apprenticeship slots are limited and competitive.
By contrast, electricians (about 72,700 openings a year) and plumbers (about 42,000) have lower medians than elevator work but many more openings, and BLS projects 9% and 7% growth. HVAC technicians (11% growth, about 40,600 openings) and industrial machinery mechanics and millwrights (14% growth) also combine solid growth with a wide set of employers. If you are weighing the first two, see our electrician versus plumber comparison.
How pay changes by state: three trades, ten states
National medians hide big differences. The table shows BLS May 2025 state medians for three trades in the ten states our state guides cover. For electricians, the highest state median in this set is $78,750 (New York) and the lowest is $56,800 (North Carolina), against a national median of $63,190.
| State | Electrician | Plumber | HVAC technician |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $78,750 | $77,490 | $74,430 |
| California | $76,160 | $72,830 | $72,560 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,600 | $68,080 | $62,400 |
| Ohio | $64,700 | $63,330 | $62,510 |
| Virginia | $62,900 | $60,470 | $59,730 |
| Arizona | $61,060 | $62,070 | $59,400 |
| Texas | $58,570 | $59,840 | $57,760 |
| Georgia | $58,320 | $57,200 | $56,390 |
| Florida | $57,250 | $52,910 | $56,670 |
| North Carolina | $56,800 | $57,080 | $57,260 |
State medians are May 2025 BLS wage data as shown in our state guides, and wage-and-salary workers only. Higher pay in a state often comes with higher living costs, and licensing differs: for example, California certifies electricians through the Department of Industrial Relations (8,000 hours of work experience required), while Texas licenses journeyman electricians through TDLR (8,000 hours under a master electrician). Check your state's rules, and use the trade salary by state tool or the state career guides.
What moves pay up or down within a trade
Two people in the same trade can earn very different amounts. These are the factors that typically matter. This guide does not attach percentages to them, because published figures vary by trade and place.
- ✓Location: state and metro area change wages more than almost anything else (see the table above).
- ✓Union or merit-shop employer: wage scales, benefits and training costs differ by sponsor. Ask for the written wage schedule.
- ✓Specialty and setting: commercial, industrial and utility work can pay differently from residential service.
- ✓Licensing and certification: moving from apprentice to journey level, or holding a required license, usually changes pay and responsibility.
- ✓Overtime and public projects: some work carries overtime, and federal contracts can require prevailing wages. Confirm what applies to the job you are considering.
- ✓Running a business: owners earn very differently from employees, and carry cost and risk. This guide does not publish owner income figures.
Trades and degrees: what BLS actually shows
BLS publishes median usual weekly earnings by education level for full-time wage and salary workers. For 2025 it reports $1,578 a week for a bachelor's degree (about $82,000 over 52 weeks), $1,135 for an associate degree (about $59,000), and $966 for a high school diploma (about $50,000). The same table shows lower unemployment at higher education levels.
That means the honest comparison is not "trades beat college." The median bachelor's earner in BLS data is above the median for most trades in the ranking above, and below elevator and power-line work. Averages hide a wide spread inside both groups. What differs is the route: a registered apprenticeship is paid employment with classroom instruction, while a degree usually means tuition first. Many apprentices still pay for tools, books or exam fees, so compare actual costs. The two BLS series measure pay differently (an employer wage survey versus a household survey of full-time workers), so treat the comparison as rough.
| Question | Registered apprenticeship | Four-year degree |
|---|---|---|
| Income while training | Paid, with wages that rise as skills grow (set by each sponsor) | Usually none from the program; students often borrow or work |
| Typical cost to you | Varies by sponsor: some cover classes, some do not; tools and dues may apply | Tuition, fees and living costs vary widely; check each school's net price |
| Typical time | Often 3 to 5 years, depending on the trade | Usually 4 years or more |
| Job guarantee | None; completing training does not guarantee work | None |
| What BLS shows | Trade medians of $55,000 to $110,000 in this list | 2025 median weekly earnings of $1,578 for bachelor's holders |
Sources: BLS, Education pays, 2025 (weekly figures annualized here by multiplying by 52; 2025 figures are 11 month averages that exclude October), and Apprenticeship.gov. Compare training routes in detail: apprenticeship versus trade school.
How to get started in a high-paying trade
- 1Pick two or three trades from the listUse the table, then compare the work itself: heights, tight spaces, travel, schedules and physical demands. The free quiz can help you narrow it down, and the compare tool puts trades side by side.
- 2Search real apprenticeship openingsUse the Apprenticeship.gov Job Finder and the Partner Finder, then confirm the sponsor's own application page. A result label is not proof of an open job, so check the deadline and entry requirements.
- 3Apply directly and ask the right questionsAsk about the starting wage and raise schedule, who pays for classes and tools, how long the program lasts, and what testing is required. Many programs use a written aptitude test, so ask what it covers and prepare for it.
- 4Check your state's licensing rulesMany of these trades require a license, and the rules differ by state. Your state's licensing board and apprenticeship office are the sources to trust.
- 5Ask a career center about help paying for trainingAn American Job Center can explain local services and whether you may qualify for help with approved training. Funding is not automatic and varies by location.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest paying trade job in the US?
In this list it is elevator installer and repairer, with a BLS national median of $109,910 (May 2025). BLS says most learn through a 4 year apprenticeship and that most states require a license. Electrical power-line installers are next at $95,320. These are medians for all experience levels, not starting pay.
Can trade workers make six figures?
Some do. The elevator installer median is above $100,000, and the BLS 90th percentile wage is $108,510 for electricians and $108,420 for plumbers, meaning about one in ten earns more than that. That is a minority, and where you live, overtime, specialty and employer matter a great deal. This guide does not publish income ranges it cannot source.
Which of these trades has the best job outlook?
BLS projects the fastest growth for wind turbine technicians (30%), industrial machinery mechanics and millwrights (14%), HVAC technicians (11%), power-line installers (10%) and electricians (9%), over 2025 to 2035. Wind turbine technician is a small occupation (about 1,500 openings a year), and boilermakers are projected to decline 2%.
How long does it take to start earning good money in a trade?
It depends on the trade and the program. Registered apprenticeships are paid, and Apprenticeship.gov says wages increase as skills grow, but starting wages and raise schedules are set by each sponsor. Ask for the written wage schedule before you decide, and treat national medians as a destination, not a first-year wage.
Is welding a good-paying trade?
BLS reports a national median of $53,750 for welders, cutters, solderers and brazers, which is below the 15 trades ranked here, with 2% projected growth. Some welding specialties pay more, but this guide does not quote figures it has not verified.
Which trade is fastest to enter?
BLS describes postsecondary HVAC programs as typically lasting 6 months to 2 years, truck driving as short-term on-the-job training plus a CDL, and roofing as on-the-job training with no formal credential. Several of the highest paying trades, such as elevator, power-line, boilermaker and plumbing work, use multi-year apprenticeships instead.
Do I need a college degree for these trades?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education for most of them. Wind turbine technicians, HVAC technicians and truck drivers typically need a postsecondary non-degree award, and building inspectors need years of related experience. Licensing rules vary by state.
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