This article contains the most recent salary data from BLS for the highest paying skilled trade jobs. Careers in the building, construction, and the mechanics fields are included. Many of the most popular programs in the “skilled trades” will take less than 2 years to complete.
List of the Highest Paying Skilled Trades
These are some of the highest paying jobs that are commonly considered skilled trades or construction related. The salary listed is either the average or mean pay a worker earned in 2022, entry level pay will be less and those with a lot of experience will make more. The salaries listed here were updated with the newest BLS information posted in April of 2023.
- Construction Management: $112,790
- Pile Driver Operators: $70,220
- Aircraft Mechanic: $72,640
- Construction Inspectors: $70,130
- Plumbers: $65,190
- Brick Masons: $62,380
- Electrician: $65,280
- Carpenters: $58,210
- Sheet Metal Worker: $61,300
- Truck Driver: $53,090
- HVAC Technician: $57,460
- Welder: $50,460
- Auto Mechanic: $49,690
There are fast trade school programs for some of these high paying skilled trade careers. Examples of the fastest programs to graduate include CDL truck driver, hvac technician, and mechanic.
15 More Top Paying Trade School Careers
Here’s some salary data for other careers you can train for at a trade school or technical college. These include careers in the information technology, business, and medical career fields. Programs for some of these high paying technical and medical jobs can take 2-4 years to complete.
- Mechanical Engineering Technician: $64,530
- Dental Hygienist: $84,860
- Computer Systems Analyst: $107,530
- Computer Programmer: $102,790
- Radiation Therapist: $98,340
- RN Nurse: $89,010
- Accountant: $86,740
- Health Service Manager: $127,980
A few of these careers may pay even more than current government statistics show, especially if you live in a fast growing area where there’s a lack of skilled workers. I know where I live, in a growing area of Florida, experienced welders, HVAC technicians, CDL truck drivers, and electricians can make substantially more than this post indicates.
All above listed salaries have been updated with BLS data from March of 2023. New salary information will be published around May 2024 and the information on this page will be updated then.
This salary information was gathered from the official BLS website. United States National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Connect with a school offering these and other skilled trade and technical programs.
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