Not all trades are created equal. Some pay more, some are growing faster, and some are a lot easier to get into. As a trades dean, these are the skilled trades I’d point most people toward right now, with what they pay, how fast they’re growing and how long it takes to get started.
Quick answer
| Trade | Median pay (U.S.) | Projected growth | Openings per year | Typical path |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lineworker | $95,320 | 10% | 10,900 | Apprenticeship (about 4 years) |
| Electrician | $63,190 | 9% | 72,700 | Apprenticeship (4–5 years) or school + trainee hours |
| HVAC technician | $61,010 | 11% | 40,600 | School (6 months–2 years) or apprenticeship |
| Plumber / pipefitter | $63,800 | 7% | 42,000 | Apprenticeship (4–5 years) |
| Elevator mechanic | $109,910 | 6% | — | Apprenticeship (about 4 years) |
| Heavy equipment operator | $59,850 | 5% | 39,200 | Apprenticeship or short school program |
| Diesel mechanic | $61,770 | 4% | 24,400 | School (1–2 years) or on-the-job training |
| Carpenter | $60,580 | 4% | 62,800 | Apprenticeship (about 4 years) |
| Truck driver (CDL) | $58,640 | 4% | 214,500 | CDL school (about 3–8 weeks) |
| Welder | $53,750 | 2% | 40,300 | School (months to 2 years) + certification tests |
| Automotive technician | $50,620 | 5% | 66,200 | School (1–2 years) + ASE certifications |
Pay: O*NET OnLine, BLS OEWS May 2025. Growth and openings: BLS employment projections 2025–2035, via O*NET OnLine. Openings include jobs that open up as workers retire or change careers.
From the dean’s desk
If I could get into any trade, it would be elevator mechanic or lineworker. The problem for me is I’m afraid of heights. But these two careers pay top dollar and provide the most mobility.
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Trades, Transportation & Apprenticeship
How we picked
Every trade here pays at or near a middle-class income without a four-year degree, has thousands of openings a year, and has a clear training path through an apprenticeship, a community college or a short certificate. We left out trades with very few openings or no clear entry point.
The best skilled trades, one by one
Lineworker
Builds and repairs the power lines that keep the grid running. Lineworker is the best-paid trade on this list, with lots of overtime and travel. Getting into a lineworker apprenticeship is competitive, and most programs expect a Class A CDL and strong climbing skills.
Median pay: $95,320 · Growth: 10% · Path: Apprenticeship (about 4 years) · Find a school near you → · Read the guide →
Electrician
Wires homes, businesses, factories and data centers. Electricians have one of the most flexible paths: union or non-union apprenticeships, residential or commercial, and specialty licenses for low voltage and solar. Every state sets its own license rules, so start with your state guide.
Median pay: $63,190 · Growth: 9% · Path: Apprenticeship (4–5 years) or school + trainee hours · Find a school near you →
HVAC technician
Installs and services heating, cooling and refrigeration. HVAC has the fastest projected growth on this list, and data centers, heat pumps and new energy rules keep pushing demand up. You need EPA 608 certification to handle refrigerants.
Median pay: $61,010 · Growth: 11% · Path: School (6 months–2 years) or apprenticeship · Find a school near you → · Read the guide →
Plumber / pipefitter
Installs water, gas, steam and process piping in homes, commercial buildings and plants. Licensed plumbers are hard to replace, and many go on to run their own shops.
Median pay: $63,800 · Growth: 7% · Path: Apprenticeship (4–5 years) · Find a school near you → · Read the guide →
Elevator mechanic
Installs and repairs elevators and escalators. It’s one of the highest-paid trades, but apprenticeship openings are rare and competitive, so watch for application windows.
Median pay: $109,910 · Growth: 6% · Path: Apprenticeship (about 4 years) · Read the guide →
Heavy equipment operator
Runs excavators, dozers, loaders and cranes on road, utility and building sites. Operating Engineers apprenticeships pay well and open on a schedule, so it pays to apply the moment a window opens.
Median pay: $59,850 · Growth: 5% · Path: Apprenticeship or short school program · Find a school near you → · Read the guide →
Diesel mechanic
Keeps trucks, buses and heavy equipment running. Modern diesel work is as much computer diagnostics and emissions systems as wrenches, and good diesel techs rarely look for work long.
Median pay: $61,770 · Growth: 4% · Path: School (1–2 years) or on-the-job training · Find a school near you → · Read the guide →
Carpenter
Builds the framing, forms and finish work on almost every project. Carpentry is a great starter trade with lots of openings, and it can lead to project management or your own business.
Median pay: $60,580 · Growth: 4% · Path: Apprenticeship (about 4 years) · Find a school near you → · Read the guide →
Truck driver (CDL)
The fastest way on this list to a solid paycheck, with more openings than any other trade here. A Class A CDL also opens doors to lineworker, construction and utility jobs.
Median pay: $58,640 · Growth: 4% · Path: CDL school (about 3–8 weeks) · Find a school near you → · Read the guide →
Welder
Joins metal in construction, manufacturing, shipyards and pipelines. Pay depends heavily on your certifications and specialty, and certified pipe and structural welders earn well above the median.
Median pay: $53,750 · Growth: 2% · Path: School (months to 2 years) + certification tests · Find a school near you → · Read the guide →
Automotive technician
Diagnoses and repairs cars and light trucks. It’s a fast, affordable start, and techs who add ASE certifications, EV training or a dealer program earn the most.
Median pay: $50,620 · Growth: 5% · Path: School (1–2 years) + ASE certifications · Find a school near you →
Not into construction? Look at nursing
Licensed practical nurses (median $64,400) and registered nurses ($97,550) train at the same community and technical colleges as the trades, in about one to two years after prerequisites. See our Nursing & Healthcare section.
How to choose the right trade for you
- Want the biggest paycheck? Look at lineworker, elevator mechanic and the electrical and pipe trades.
- Want to start working fast? A CDL, HVAC certificate or welding certificate can get you working in months.
- Don’t want to sit in a classroom? Apprenticeships pay you while you learn on the job.
- Not sure yet? Take our free career assessment or read the easiest skilled trades to learn.
Where to start
- Apprenticeship openings trackers: see which union and employer programs are taking applications right now in Washington, Oregon, California and Michigan.
- Training finder: search trade schools near your ZIP code.
- State guides: licensing rules and programs for your state.
- How to pay for trade school: grants, the GI Bill and other ways to train without debt.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest-paying skilled trade?
Of the trades on this list, elevator mechanics ($109,910) and lineworkers ($95,320) have the highest median pay nationally. Pay varies a lot by state and city.
What is the fastest-growing trade?
HVAC technicians (11%), lineworkers (10%) and electricians (9%) have the fastest projected growth from 2025 to 2035.
Which trade has the most job openings?
Truck driving, with about 214,500 openings a year, followed by electricians, automotive technicians and carpenters.
Do I need college to get into a trade?
No. Many trades start with a paid apprenticeship. A community or technical college program can help you get hired or get into an apprenticeship, and it often counts toward your training hours.
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