Embarking on a trade career can be rewarding for those who relish hands-on challenges. Unlike traditional four-year degrees, trade jobs typically necessitate specialized training through vocational schooling, apprenticeships, or on-the-job programs.
If you’re considering a trade career or exploring opportunities in your area, this guide can help you make informed decisions aligned with your interests and aspirations.
A trade job, also known as a vocational or skilled job, is a career that doesn’t mandate a four-year bachelor’s degree but instead requires specialized training. Individuals pursuing trade jobs can acquire this training through various channels, including associate degree programs, vocational schools, on-the-job training, or apprenticeships.
The distinctive advantage of trade careers lies in the focused skill set they demand, often resulting in lucrative compensation for those who master their craft.
- Associate Degree: Typically a two-year program providing in-depth knowledge and skills related to a specific trade.
- Vocational School: Offers specialized training ranging from eight weeks to two years, providing a quicker path to the workforce.
- On-the-Job Training: Learning while working, gaining practical experience and skills under the guidance of experienced professionals.
- Apprenticeships: Formal programs combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction allow apprentices to earn while learning.
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Highest-Paying Trade Jobs
Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), here are 10 of the highest-paying trade jobs, listed in descending order according to their national average salaries:
- Ultrasonographer
Average Salary: $141,126 per year
Education: Associate degree
Job Outlook: 10%, faster than average
Diagnostic medical sonographers, another name for ultrasonographers, are individuals who test bodies for diagnostic imaging. An ultrasound transducer is a specialized medical device that they use to create images of the inside of the body using sound waves.
- Radiation Therapist
Average Salary: $121,591 per year
Education: Associate degree
Job Outlook: 6%, as fast as average
As a member of an oncology team, radiation therapists treat cancer patients. Radiation therapists can help patients heal and recover by using radiation therapy to reduce malignancies. To ensure they are not subjected to dangerous radiation exposure levels, radiation therapists receive safety training.
- Respiratory Therapist
Average Salary: $98,673 per year
Education: Associate degree
Job Outlook: 14%, much faster than average
Respiratory therapists treat patients who struggle with breathing. They provide patient care for patients of all ages and diagnose and treat lung disease. In the event of a shock, heart attack, or drowning, they might also offer emergency care.
- Dental Hygienist
Average Salary: $96,298 per year
Education: Associate degree
Job Outlook: 9%, faster than average
Dental hygienists offer patients preventive dental care in addition to teeth cleaning. They also assist in teaching patients about the need to maintain basic oral hygiene, such as how to brush and floss correctly to ward off dental issues like cavities.
- Construction Manager
Average Salary: $83,238 per year
Education: Bachelor’s degree
Job Outlook: 8%, faster than average
For construction projects that are governmental, commercial, or residential, construction managers collaborate with architects and engineers. Construction managers are primarily responsible for determining what building materials will be required to finish a project and then obtaining those items.
- Aircraft Mechanic
Average Salary: $77,773 per year
Education: Postsecondary nondegree award or associate degree
Job Outlook: 6%, as fast as average
Helicopters and airplanes need maintenance and repairs, which is what aircraft mechanics do. They make sure that every mechanical part of an airplane satisfies safety and operating standards. Typically, aviation mechanics are employed by engineering firms, government agencies, military units, and airports.
- Cable Technician
Average Salary: $77,758 per year
Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Outlook: 8%, faster than average
Cable technicians, often known as cable installers, install and maintain cable lines in residences, workplaces, and other structures. Cable installers’ schedules may include overtime and on-call hours because they may need to respond to a broad outage and troubleshoot issues.
- Industrial Mechanic
Average Salary: $67,860 per year
Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Outlook: 14%, much faster than average
Industrial mechanics perform testing and calibration on industrial gear, including conveying systems, packaging machinery, shredders, and production machinery. An industrial mechanic can minimize potential downtime and handle emergency repairs to guarantee that companies run safely and effectively. For industrial mechanics, factories, building sites, or power plants are typical workplaces.
- Solar Installer
Average Salary: $67,213 per year
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Job Outlook: 27%, much faster than average
An expert who installs solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on a building’s roof to harness the sun’s energy is known as a solar installer. Solar panels are erected and maintained by an installation. Based on the preferences of the customer, they create a strategy for the installation on each owner’s property. Solar installers operate in a range of outdoor climates.
- Real Estate Appraiser
Average Salary: $64,246 per year
Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Job Outlook: 4%, as fast as average
The worth of a piece of land and the structures on it are estimated by a real estate appraiser. When a real estate appraiser visits a location, they examine its features and contrast it with other properties that are similar. They frequently spend time in the field visiting various properties and specialize in either residential or commercial real estate.
Embarking on a trade career offers many opportunities for those with a penchant for hands-on work. The diverse array of high-paying trade jobs presented here underscores the breadth and depth of possibilities within the trade sector.
Whether you envision yourself in healthcare, construction, technology, or other industries, exploring these trade options and understanding the educational pathways can help you make informed decisions about your career journey.
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