The 10 Highest-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs

A four-year degree is not the only road to a solid middle-class income, and for many people it is not the most affordable one. Skilled trades let you earn while you learn. Most are entered through a paid apprenticeship, which means you draw a wage from the first week instead of borrowing for tuition. By the time a college graduate is leaving school with a loan balance, a tradesperson can be a few years into a licensed, well-paid career with no debt attached.

The wage figures below come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, using the May 2024 release, which is the most recent national data. Each number is the median annual wage for that occupation nationwide, meaning half of workers in the field earned more and half earned less. We have ranked the ten trades from highest median pay to lowest. If you want to compare day-to-day duties, training routes, and local demand across these and other fields, Real World Careers is a useful starting point for plain research before you commit to a path.

1. Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $106,580 median

This trade sits at the top of the list by a wide margin. Workers assemble, install, and maintain elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and lifts, then keep them running safely once they are in service. The path is a four-year apprenticeship that combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction in electronics, hydraulics, and safety codes. Many states and some local jurisdictions require a license. Because the work touches both electrical and mechanical systems and carries heavy safety responsibility, pay is high and the field is competitive to enter. Employment is projected to grow about as fast as average over the coming decade.

2. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers — $92,560 median

Line workers install and repair the high-voltage cables and transmission systems that carry electricity from power plants to homes and businesses. It is demanding, sometimes hazardous work, often performed outdoors, at height, and in storm conditions when the grid needs urgent repair. Most workers enter through an apprenticeship of roughly three years, with extensive safety training and a commercial driver's license frequently required. The BLS projects employment to grow faster than the average for all occupations, driven by grid upgrades and rising electricity demand. Overtime during outages can push earnings well above the median.

3. Boilermakers — $73,340 median

Boilermakers assemble, install, and maintain boilers, vats, and other large vessels that hold liquids and gases. The work involves heavy welding, rigging, and fabrication, often inside power plants, refineries, and shipyards. Entry is typically through a four-year apprenticeship sponsored by a union or employer. The job is physically strenuous and frequently involves travel to job sites and confined-space work. Overall employment is expected to change little over the decade, but skilled, certified welders within the trade remain in steady demand. Maintenance shutdowns at large industrial plants create concentrated bursts of work, and boilermakers who are willing to travel for these jobs often command premium pay and long stretches of overtime.

4. Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers — $64,310 median

These technicians set up and maintain the equipment that carries phone, internet, and data signals, including fiber-optic lines, routers, and central-office systems. Most workers learn through a mix of employer training, technical-school coursework, and on-the-job experience rather than a formal multi-year apprenticeship, so the entry ramp can be shorter than in the construction trades. The BLS projects a slight decline in overall employment as networks become more automated, but thousands of openings are expected each year to replace workers who retire or move on. To weigh this field against the higher-paying line and electrical trades, you can compare the duties side by side on Real World Careers.

5. Industrial Machinery Mechanics and Millwrights — $63,510 median

Millwrights and industrial machinery mechanics install, repair, and maintain the factory equipment that keeps manufacturing plants running. Millwrights specialize in precision installation and alignment of heavy machinery, while mechanics focus on keeping it operating. Workers generally enter through an apprenticeship of up to four years or a combination of technical training and on-the-job experience. This is one of the faster-growing trades on the list, with employment projected to grow much faster than average as factories add automated equipment that still needs skilled hands to install and maintain it.

6. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $62,970 median

Plumbers install and repair water, drainage, and gas systems; pipefitters and steamfitters work on the piping that carries chemicals, steam, and other substances in industrial settings. Entry is almost always through a four- to five-year apprenticeship, after which most states require a license to work independently. The trade combines steady residential and commercial demand with the chance to specialize in higher-paying industrial work. Employment is projected to grow about as fast as average, and licensed plumbers who run their own businesses can earn considerably more than the median.

7. Structural Iron and Steel Workers — $62,700 median

Often called ironworkers, these tradespeople raise the steel framework of buildings, bridges, and other large structures. The work is done at height and in the open air, and it demands strength, balance, and a careful respect for safety. Entry is through a three- to four-year apprenticeship that covers rigging, welding, and blueprint reading. Demand follows construction activity, so the field can be cyclical, but skilled ironworkers are well paid and the apprenticeship leads directly to a licensed, journey-level career. Large infrastructure projects, from highway bridges to stadiums, tend to cluster the highest-paying work in metropolitan areas, so location can matter as much as experience for total earnings.

8. Electricians — $62,350 median

Electricians install and maintain wiring, lighting, and control systems in homes, businesses, and factories. It is one of the largest and most stable skilled trades, with a clear training ladder: a four- to five-year apprenticeship followed by a state licensing exam to become a journeyman, and further testing to reach master electrician. Employment is projected to grow faster than average, helped by renewable energy, electric-vehicle charging, and grid work. Because the license transfers across employers and the demand is broad, many people view electrical work as one of the safest long-term bets in the trades.

9. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $59,810 median

HVAC technicians install and service the heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems that nearly every building relies on. Training is often shorter than in other trades: many workers complete a six-month to two-year program at a technical school and then learn on the job, though formal apprenticeships also exist. Some states and the federal government require certification to handle refrigerants. Employment is projected to grow faster than average, and the steady need for repairs and replacements makes the work relatively recession-resistant. The shorter training window also makes HVAC one of the quickest trades to enter, which appeals to career changers who want to start earning sooner.

10. Brickmasons and Blockmasons — $56,600 median

Brickmasons and blockmasons build and repair walls, walkways, and other structures using brick, concrete block, and stone. The craft rewards precision and stamina, and it remains in demand for both new construction and restoration work. Entry is typically through a three- to four-year apprenticeship or a combination of technical training and on-the-job experience. Pay rounds out the top ten, and experienced masons who take on supervisory or contracting roles can earn well above the median.

Skilled Trades at a Glance

A few caveats are worth keeping in mind before you read too much into any single number. A median is a midpoint, not a ceiling or a floor. Earnings vary widely by region, by employer, and by whether a job is union or non-union; union shops often pay higher base wages and offer stronger benefits, while non-union pay can swing more with local demand. Overtime is common in several of these trades, especially line work and boilermaking, and it can lift a worker's actual yearly income well past the median figures shown here. These jobs are also physically demanding. Most involve lifting, climbing, working at height, or spending long days outdoors or in confined spaces, and the toll on the body is real over a long career. Weigh the pay against the conditions, and look closely at the licensing rules in your own state, since requirements differ from place to place.

If a trade on this list appeals to you, the next step is honest research: what the daily work actually involves, where the apprenticeships are, and what local employers pay. Real World Careers is built for exactly that kind of grounded, no-hype comparison, and it is a sensible place to begin mapping a debt-light path into one of these fields.