What can you earn in the trades?

Many high school graduates don’t envision a bachelor’s degree as their next step. The skilled trades are more important than ever, offering career opportunities that don’t always require a traditional four-year college degree. These hands-on professions, ranging from electricians and plumbers to HVAC technicians, morticians, and carpenters, are essential and form the backbone of our infrastructure and daily lives. 

Curious about what you can earn in a skilled trade? We sourced most of our data from ZipRecruiter, which has the most up-to-date information on national average salaries, whether annual or hourly. We also included cities with the highest salaries and, where appropriate, included related jobs.

Aesthetician

Average annual salary: $45,374
High: $73,000 | Low: $19,000
Top-paying city: Santa Cruz County, CA - $62,961
Related high-paying aesthetician jobs (annual salary):

• Master Esthetician: $66,900
• Holistic Skin Care Specialist: $62,017 
• Licensed Esthetician: $58,205
• Microdermabrasion: $50,757
• Med Spa Esthetician: $45,374

Automotive Mechanic

Average annual salary: $52,000
High: $36.54 hourly | Low: $12.26 hourly
Top-paying city: Scotts Valley, CA - $66,793
Related high-paying automotive mechanic jobs (annual salary):

• Director Auto Mechanic: $68,439 
• Automotive Maintenance: $65,662
• Automotive Welding: $53,788
• Automotive Machinist: $49,499

Automotive Service Technician

Average annual salary: $58,240
High: $45.43 hourly | Low: $10.82 hourly
Top-paying city: Soledad, CA - $86,483
Related high-paying automotive service technician jobs (annual salary):

• BMW Service Technician: $125,000 
• Master Technician: $62,500 to $90,000
• Automotive Instructor: $66,346
• Senior Automotive Technician: $58,313

Avionics Technician

Average annual salary: $66,560
High: $44.23 hourly | Low: $16.59 hourly
Top-paying city: Andrews, MD - $85,016
Related high-paying avionics tech jobs (annual salary):

• Building Systems Technician: $57,186 
• Lead Maintenance Technician: $54,442
• Instrument Control and Electrical Technician: $50,826
• Facility Maintenance Technician: $46,961

Carpenter

Average annual salary: $52,115
High: $74,000 | Low: $29,500
State with the highest salary: Washington - $59,025

CDL Truck Driver

Average annual salary: $78,261
High: $186,500 | Low: $29,500
State with the highest salary: Washington - $89,045

Certified Nursing Assistant

Average annual salary: $37,838
High: $54,000 | Low: $22,000
Top-paying city: Corcoran, CA - $60,316
Related high-paying CNA jobs (annual salary):

• Certified Nurse: $55,338
• Self-employed hospital CNA: $45,610
• Correctional CNA: $41,734
• CNA EKG Phlebotomy: $38,463

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Average annual salary: $66,560
High: $46.88 hourly | Low: $17.31 hourly
Top-paying city: Reeder, ND - $84,015

Construction Inspector

Average annual salary: $66,250
High: $117,000 | Low: $32,500
Top-paying city: Nome, AK - $82,183
Related high-paying construction inspector jobs (annual salary):

• Residential insurance inspector: $67,500
• Environmental Compliance Inspector: $65,481

Construction Manager

Average annual salary: $95,168
High: $151,000 | Low: $40,000
Top-paying city: Soledad, CA - $142,362
Related high-paying construction manager jobs (annual salary):

• Pre-construction Manager: $101,510
• Subcontractor: $56,645
• Construction Office Manager: $51,476

Culinary Arts

Average annual salary: $44,554
High: $68,000 | Low: $11,000
Top-paying city: Napa, CA - $57,962

Drafter

Average annual salary: $52,160
High: $43.51 hourly | Low: $14.90 hourly
Top-paying city: Mineral, VA - $81,188
Related high-paying drafter jobs (annual salary):

• Electrical CAD Designer: $86,892 
• Senior CAD Drafter: $65,035 
• Associate CAD Designer: $58,560 
• Mechanical Drafting: $56,049

Electrical Lineman

Average annual salary: $118,560
High: $59.86 hourly | Low: $34.86 hourly
Top-paying city: Corcoran, CA - $190,489
Related high-paying electrical lineman jobs (annual salary):

• Power lineman: $87,915 
• Aerial Lineman: $55,795

Electrician

Average annual salary: $61,391
High: $98,000 | Low: $32,000
State with the highest salary: Washington - $69,531

Electronics Technician

Average annual salary: $60,843
High: $95,500 | Low: $29,500
Top-paying city: Scotts Valley, CA - $78,737

Elevator Installer and Repairer

Average annual salary: $56,160
High: $47.36 hourly | Low: $12.74 hourly
Top-paying city: Nome, AK - $70,017

Firefighter

Average annual salary: $59,606
High: $100,000 | Low: $28,500
Top-paying city: San Mateo County, CA: $87,739

Funeral Director/Mortician

Average annual salary: $65,886
High: $88,500 | Low: $32,500
Top-paying city: Nome, AK - $81,732

Home Inspector

Average annual salary: $60,345
High: $89,500 | Low: $29,500
Top-paying city: Portola Valley, CA - $84,110
Related high-paying home inspector jobs (annual salary):

• Foreclosure Field Inspector: $56,872 
• Independent Property Inspector: $49,683

HVAC Technician

Average annual salary: $58,240
High: $43.03 hourly | Low: $13.70 hourly
Top-paying city: Nome, AK - $72,919

Industrial Mechanic

Average annual salary: $58,240
High: $38.22 hourly | Low: $14.90 hourly
Top-paying city: Nome, AK - $71,449
Related high-paying industrial mechanic jobs (annual salary):

• Plant Mechanic: $66,248 
• Manufacturing Mechanic: $56,800 
• Building Mechanic: $50,010

Locksmith

Average annual salary: $54,080
High: $35.58 hourly | Low: $12.98 hourly
Top-paying city: Ione, CA - $77,620

Machinist

Average annual salary: $54,080
High: $36.54 hourly | Low: $14.90 hourly
Top-paying city: Corcoran, CA - $84,984

Masseur/Massage Therapist

Average annual salary: $72,800
High: $59.62 hourly | Low: $9.62 hourly
Top-paying city: Mineral, VA - $104,177
Related high-paying massage therapist jobs (annual salary):

• Prenatal Massage Therapist: $71,679 
• Aromatherapy: $66,461 
• Spa Therapist: $53,236

MRI Technologist

Average annual salary: $110,240
High: $78.85 hourly | Low: $19.48 hourly
Top-paying city: Corcoran, CA - $175,801
Related high-paying MRI Technologist jobs (annual salary):

• MRI Manager: $83,482 
• Lead Radiology Tech: $78,874 
• MRI Scheduler: $53,874

Paralegal

Average annual salary: $59,731
High: $89,000 | Low: $33,000
Top-paying city: Surry, VA - $85,906
Related high-paying paralegal jobs (annual salary):

• Senior Litigation Paralegal: $86,176 
• Commercial Litigation Paralegal: $78,599 
• Senior Paralegal: $75,187 
• Paralegal Office Manager: $71,376 

Pipeline Welder

Average annual salary: $71,593
High: $87,500 | Low: $44,000
Top-paying city: Nome, AK - $88,811

Plumber

Average annual salary: $62,400
High: $48.08 hourly | Low: $14.18 hourly
Top-paying city: Soledad, CA - $94,564
Related high-paying plumbing jobs (annual salary):

• Residential Plumber: $71,534 
• Service Plumber: $65,552 
• Pipe Fitter Apprentice: $59,574 
• Commercial Plumber: $58,820

Police Officer

Average annual salary: $62,148
High: $103,500 | Low: $32,500
Top-paying city: San Mateo County, CA - $91,480
Related high-paying police officer jobs (annual salary):

• Police Chief: $124,409 
• Environmental Police: $74,487 
• Motorcycle Police Officer: $60,629
• Police Recruiter: $60,477 
• Court Enforcement Officer: $59,965

Solar Panel Installer

Average annual salary: $49,920
High: $36.06 hourly | Low: $14.90 hourly
Top-paying city: Avenal, CA - $70,453

Surgical Technician

Average annual salary: $100,137
High: $135,120 | Low: $74,210
Top-paying city: Norfolk, VA - $114,511
Related high-paying surgical technician jobs (annual salary):

• Anesthesia Technician: $114,972 
• Surgical First Assistant: $79,027 
• Senior Surgical Tech: $60,500 
• Surgical Assistant: $57,641

Structural Iron & Steel Worker

Average annual salary: $56,160
High: $49.52 hourly | Low: $17.79 hourly
Top-paying city: Nome, AK - $70,075

Web Developer

Average annual salary: $94,149
High: $161,500 | Low: $32,000
Top-paying city: Bumpass, VA - $126,020

Wind Turbine Technician

Average annual salary: $54,080
High: $37.98 hourly | Low: $16.35 hourly
Top-paying city: Nome, AK - $67,272