Trade jobs that pay well
The 50 highest paying skilled trades in the United States, ranked by median annual salary from official BLS data. Most are learned on the job or through an apprenticeship, not a four-year degree.
The best paid trades cluster around licensing, specialized equipment, and safety-critical work. Of the 50 trades listed here, 48 do not typically require a college degree, yet many pay well above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
| # | Job | Median annual | Hourly | Typical education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $232,140 | Salaried | Bachelor's degree | 103,560 |
| 2 | Air Traffic Controllers | $148,080 | $71.19 | Associate's degree | 22,510 |
| 3 | Commercial Pilots | $123,220 | Salaried | Postsecondary nondegree award | 47,630 |
| 4 | Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | $122,890 | $59.08 | High school diploma or equivalent | 5,150 |
| 5 | Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $109,910 | $52.84 | High school diploma or equivalent | 23,790 |
| 6 | Ship Engineers | $109,530 | $52.66 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 8,400 |
| 7 | Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $106,730 | $51.31 | High school diploma or equivalent | 8,520 |
| 8 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | $103,020 | $49.53 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 20,720 |
| 9 | Power Plant Operators | $102,040 | $49.06 | High school diploma or equivalent | 29,320 |
| 10 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $96,710 | $46.50 | High school diploma or equivalent | 33,160 |
| 11 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $95,320 | $45.83 | High school diploma or equivalent | 131,070 |
| 12 | Signal and Track Switch Repairers | $92,460 | $44.45 | High school diploma or equivalent | 8,720 |
| 13 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $92,460 | $44.45 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 36,850 |
| 14 | Transportation Inspectors | $92,100 | $44.28 | High school diploma or equivalent | 24,500 |
| 15 | Gas Plant Operators | $87,820 | $42.22 | High school diploma or equivalent | 18,030 |
| 16 | Subway and Streetcar Operators | $86,380 | $41.53 | High school diploma or equivalent | 10,200 |
| 17 | Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | $84,890 | $40.81 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 6,940 |
| 18 | Avionics Technicians | $82,280 | $39.56 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 18,830 |
| 19 | Locomotive Engineers | $81,410 | $39.14 | High school diploma or equivalent | 33,470 |
| 20 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,920 | $38.42 | High school diploma or equivalent | 812,210 |
| 21 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | $79,870 | $38.40 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 138,090 |
| 22 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $79,860 | $38.39 | High school diploma or equivalent | 617,500 |
| 23 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $78,620 | $37.80 | High school diploma or equivalent | 28,250 |
| 24 | Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,540 | $37.76 | High school diploma or equivalent | 2,160 |
| 25 | Chemical Plant and System Operators | $78,120 | $37.56 | High school diploma or equivalent | 16,610 |
| 26 | Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | $78,000 | $37.50 | High school diploma or equivalent | 46,440 |
| 27 | Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators | $77,320 | $37.17 | High school diploma or equivalent | 3,510 |
| 28 | Boilermakers | $76,410 | $36.74 | High school diploma or equivalent | 10,190 |
| 29 | Terrazzo Workers and Finishers | $76,170 | $36.62 | High school diploma or equivalent | 1,180 |
| 30 | Construction and Building Inspectors | $74,690 | $35.91 | High school diploma or equivalent | 146,720 |
| 31 | Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $74,500 | $35.82 | No formal educational credential | 5,930 |
| 32 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | $35.79 | High school diploma or equivalent | 673,430 |
| 33 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | $74,340 | $35.74 | High school diploma or equivalent | 48,240 |
| 34 | Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | $74,330 | $35.73 | High school diploma or equivalent | 97,720 |
| 35 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | $74,090 | $35.62 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 65,010 |
| 36 | Pile Driver Operators | $73,300 | $35.24 | High school diploma or equivalent | 2,310 |
| 37 | Commercial Divers | $72,990 | $35.09 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 3,450 |
| 38 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $70,070 | $33.69 | High school diploma or equivalent | 19,580 |
| 39 | Wellhead Pumpers | $69,960 | $33.63 | High school diploma or equivalent | 17,990 |
| 40 | Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | $68,840 | $33.10 | High school diploma or equivalent | 12,400 |
| 41 | Tapers | $68,270 | $32.82 | No formal educational credential | 12,840 |
| 42 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers | $68,120 | $32.75 | Postsecondary nondegree award | 28,500 |
| 43 | Crane and Tower Operators | $68,080 | $32.73 | High school diploma or equivalent | 42,890 |
| 44 | Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $67,890 | $32.64 | No formal educational credential | 12,600 |
| 45 | Rail Car Repairers | $67,530 | $32.46 | High school diploma or equivalent | 21,350 |
| 46 | Watch and Clock Repairers | $67,230 | $32.32 | High school diploma or equivalent | 1,310 |
| 47 | Millwrights | $65,700 | $31.59 | High school diploma or equivalent | 40,330 |
| 48 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $65,510 | $31.50 | High school diploma or equivalent | 176,600 |
| 49 | Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers | $65,380 | $31.43 | High school diploma or equivalent | 34,020 |
| 50 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | $64,520 | $31.02 | High school diploma or equivalent | 439,640 |
Ranked by median annual wage. National estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
What counts as a trade job
We define the trades as hands-on occupations in construction and extraction, installation, maintenance and repair, production and manufacturing, transportation and material moving, and farming and outdoor work. These are the workers who build, fix, run, and move the physical economy. Pay is ranked by the median annual wage the BLS publishes for each, shown exactly as released.
Trade jobs FAQ
What is the highest paying trade job?
Among the skilled trades, airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers lead the BLS list at a median of $232,140 a year. The best paid trades tend to involve licensing, specialized equipment, or safety-critical work.
Do trade jobs pay well without a degree?
Yes. Most skilled trades are learned through apprenticeships, technical school, or on-the-job training rather than a four-year degree. Of the 50 highest paying trades on this page, 48 do not typically require a college degree for entry, according to the BLS.
Which trades are counted here?
We include hands-on occupations in construction and extraction, installation, maintenance and repair, production and manufacturing, and transportation and material moving, plus farming and outdoor work. These are the BLS occupation groups people mean by "the trades."
How are the trades ranked?
Strictly by the median annual wage published by the BLS for May 2025. The median is the midpoint of a trade: half of workers earn more and half earn less.