Trade career rankings
Which trades pay best, which need no degree, and where each trade's pay goes furthest. Every number is from BLS or BEA data.
- Highest-paying tradesEvery skilled trade ranked by median pay, with training and job growth.
- Trades that pay well without a degreeTrades that beat the typical U.S. job without a college degree.
Highest-paying trades in each state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Where each trade pays best, after cost of living
- ElectriciansBest states for electriciansBest-paying cities for electricians
- HVAC techniciansBest states for HVAC techniciansBest-paying cities for HVAC technicians
- WeldersBest states for weldersBest-paying cities for welders
- LinemenBest states for linemenBest-paying cities for linemen
- PlumbersBest states for plumbersBest-paying cities for plumbers
- Diesel mechanicsBest states for diesel mechanicsBest-paying cities for diesel mechanics
- CarpentersBest states for carpentersBest-paying cities for carpenters
- Wind turbine techniciansBest states for wind turbine technicians
- Elevator mechanicsBest states for elevator mechanicsBest-paying cities for elevator mechanics
- Heavy equipment operatorsBest states for heavy equipment operatorsBest-paying cities for heavy equipment operators
- Auto mechanicsBest states for auto mechanicsBest-paying cities for auto mechanics
- RoofersBest states for roofersBest-paying cities for roofers
- IronworkersBest states for ironworkersBest-paying cities for ironworkers
- MillwrightsBest states for millwrightsBest-paying cities for millwrights
- BoilermakersBest states for boilermakersBest-paying cities for boilermakers