The highest paying trade in the United States is elevator installer and repairer, with a median wage of $109,910 a year (BLS OES, May 2025). Lineworkers, aircraft mechanics, and boilermakers follow. Every trade on this list can be entered without a bachelor's degree, and 15 of the 28 pay the top 10 percent of workers more than $100,000.
Below is every trade we track, ranked by national median pay, with what new workers typically start at and what experienced workers reach. All figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS OES, May 2025. "Starting" is the 10th percentile wage. "Top 10 percent" is the 90th percentile.
Highest paying trades, ranked
| # | Trade | Median pay | Starting | Top 10 percent | How you get in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction Manager | $114,990 | $69,690 | $189,440 | Experience plus a degree is the usual route; some reach it from a field trade |
| 2 | Elevator Technician | $109,910 | $59,270 | $158,890 | Four to five year apprenticeship |
| 3 | Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $74,880 | $126,050 | Associate degree, state license |
| 4 | Lineworker | $95,320 | $51,470 | $128,690 | Apprenticeship, often through a utility or union |
| 5 | Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $63,660 | $118,050 | Associate degree, state license |
| 6 | Radiologic Technologist | $80,110 | $55,980 | $118,660 | Associate degree, certification |
| 7 | Aircraft Mechanic (A&P) | $79,870 | $48,780 | $128,890 | FAA-approved school or 30 months experience, A&P certificate |
| 8 | Boilermaker | $76,410 | $50,490 | $110,370 | Four year apprenticeship |
| 9 | Millwright | $65,700 | $46,290 | $93,600 | Apprenticeship |
| 10 | Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $45,940 | $96,940 | Certificate or associate degree |
| 11 | Industrial Maintenance Tech | $64,520 | $46,120 | $95,170 | Certificate or on-the-job training |
| 12 | Wind Turbine Technician | $64,120 | $49,230 | $92,460 | Certificate, often one year or less |
| 13 | Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter | $63,800 | $44,150 | $108,420 | Four to five year apprenticeship, state license |
| 14 | Electrician | $63,190 | $42,640 | $108,510 | Four to five year apprenticeship, state license |
| 15 | Medical Lab Technician | $62,930 | $38,910 | $100,990 | Associate degree, certification |
| 16 | Ironworker | $62,780 | $44,580 | $108,260 | Three to four year apprenticeship |
| 17 | Mason | $62,120 | $44,820 | $100,010 | Apprenticeship or on-the-job |
| 18 | Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $38,630 | $105,650 | Four to five year apprenticeship |
| 19 | Diesel Mechanic | $61,770 | $44,530 | $88,740 | Certificate or on-the-job training |
| 20 | HVAC Technician | $61,010 | $40,050 | $95,210 | Certificate or apprenticeship, EPA 608 card |
| 21 | Carpenter | $60,580 | $40,410 | $99,910 | Apprenticeship or on-the-job |
| 22 | Heavy Equipment Operator | $59,850 | $42,190 | $101,090 | Apprenticeship or training school |
| 23 | Machinist (CNC) | $58,750 | $39,200 | $80,010 | Certificate or apprenticeship |
| 24 | CDL Truck Driver | $58,640 | $40,140 | $79,380 | CDL school, usually three to seven weeks |
| 25 | Roofer | $55,440 | $37,460 | $81,720 | On-the-job training |
| 26 | Welder | $53,750 | $39,240 | $77,530 | Certificate, often under a year |
| 27 | Solar Installer | $53,140 | $41,600 | $79,970 | On-the-job or short certificate |
| 28 | Auto Technician | $50,620 | $34,660 | $81,790 | Certificate, ASE certifications over time |
Construction manager is on the list because many reach it from a field trade after years of experience, though a degree is the more common route today. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, BLS OES, May 2025.
Which trade makes the most money?
By median pay it is the elevator technician at $109,910. By ceiling it is the construction manager, where the top 10 percent earn $189,440. By ceiling among trades you enter through an apprenticeship, it is a close race between elevator technicians ($158,890), aircraft mechanics ($128,890), and lineworkers ($128,690).
Two things the table does not show. First, overtime and per diem. Boilermakers, lineworkers, and pipefitters on industrial or storm work routinely clear six figures in a year even where the median says otherwise. Second, ownership. The best-paid plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians in any town are the ones who own the company.
Trades that pay over $100,000
At the median, 2 trades clear $100,000: construction manager and elevator technician. The list grows fast once you look at experienced workers. These trades pay their top 10 percent more than $100,000:
- Construction Manager: $189,440
- Elevator Technician: $158,890
- Dental Hygienist: $126,050
- Lineworker: $128,690
- Respiratory Therapist: $118,050
- Radiologic Technologist: $118,660
- Aircraft Mechanic (A&P): $128,890
- Boilermaker: $110,370
- Plumber, Pipefitter, Steamfitter: $108,420
- Electrician: $108,510
- Medical Lab Technician: $100,990
- Ironworker: $108,260
- Mason: $100,010
- Sheet Metal Worker: $105,650
- Heavy Equipment Operator: $101,090
Where you work changes the number
Pay varies by metro more than most people expect. Here is one trade, electrician, across six metros we track. The same license, the same work, and a spread of more than $12,000 at the median.
| Metro | Starting | Median | Top 10 percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | $46,920 | $61,210 | $86,800 |
| Charlotte, NC | $43,770 | $59,080 | $76,310 |
| Dallas, TX | $38,740 | $59,010 | $81,660 |
| Atlanta, GA | $37,380 | $58,650 | $84,000 |
| Raleigh, NC | $45,700 | $56,800 | $73,760 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $36,740 | $48,470 | $76,900 |
Before you move for a paycheck, run the number through the salary vs. cost of living calculator. A higher wage in a higher-cost metro can leave you with less. The salary calculator compares your current pay to any trade in your area.
How to pick, and how to start
Do not choose on pay alone. The best trade for you is the one whose daily work you can stand to do for years. Heights, heat, travel, precision, each of these asks something different. Match it to who you are.
Not sure? Take the trade quiz to narrow it down, see the full breakdown for each trade on trade salaries, then find programs and apprenticeships near you in the directory or the DOL RAPIDS sponsor database. Most of the training is paid for through WIOA, Workforce Pell, and scholarships, and apprentices earn a wage from day one.
Common questions
What is the highest paid trade?
Elevator installer and repairer, with a median of $109,910 and a top 10 percent above $158,890 (BLS OES, May 2025). It is also one of the hardest apprenticeships to get into, so apply to several programs and have a backup trade.
What trade makes the most money without a degree?
Elevator technician, followed by lineworker ($95,320) and aircraft mechanic ($79,870). All three are learned through an apprenticeship or a certificate program, not a four-year degree.
Which trades pay the most for the least training?
Wind turbine technician and CDL truck driver. A wind tech certificate takes about a year and the median is $64,120. CDL school takes a few weeks and the median is $58,640, with long-haul and specialized drivers earning well above that.
How much do welders make?
The national median for welders is $53,750. Pipeline, underwater, and aerospace welders with the right certifications earn far more, and the top 10 percent nationally earn $77,530. See how much welders make for the full picture.