6 Of The Best Trade School Jobs: Highest Paying Trades That Are Growing Fast With Thousands of Openings

Last Updated September 18, 2024

Here's why it can pay to pursue trade school jobs: They often provide good incomes, a large number of opportunities, and enhanced career stability. Many of the highest paying trades in America can be entered after completing a short, skills-based program from a trade school (a broad term that can also mean a vocational school, community college, or technical institute).

Plus, the fastest-growing, most in-demand, and highest paying trade jobs are frequently some of the most satisfying. They often involve hands-on, mentally engaging tasks, leading to a real sense of pride, achievement, and confidence. By choosing a vocational school, you get the opportunity to gain more financial prosperity, job security, and day-to-day enjoyment.

Simply put, you don't need to spend four years in higher education to become a skilled worker with good opportunities. As you'll learn from the trade school jobs list below, you can achieve vocational success with a shorter, more career-oriented education.

6 of the Best Trade School Jobs for High Pay and Openings

We're defining a trade as an occupation that requires a particular set of mid- to high-level skills. A trade school job is any vocation that meets that definition, and you can train for at a vocational college or technical institute.

The careers below are ranked from highest to lowest median income, and they all meet the following criteria:

• Trade school programs are available for them.
• They pay more than $20 per hour (on a median basis).*
• They are expected to have at least 5,000 yearly job openings across the country, on average, from 2023 to 2033.*

1. Construction Management Specialist

A construction manager's role involves planning, overseeing, and coordinating activities related to specific building projects. In addition to cost estimating, budgeting, and scheduling, tasks can include hiring subcontractors, communicating with clients, interpreting contracts, ensuring compliance with local building code regulations, and more.

As a particular type of project manager, a construction manager may oversee all kinds of building projects or focus on one specific area, such as commercial, residential, industrial, or public infrastructure construction. A professional in this field can also work as a general contractor, which is typically self-employed and only deals with the construction phase of a project instead of overseeing all stages from concept to completion.

You don't necessarily need a university degree, but many employers prefer at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a college or trade school. Relevant work experience is also preferred, especially from skilled jobs that require wearing a hard hat on active construction sites. Construction management training often covers structural design, cost estimating, contracts, building codes, safety standards, building materials and procedures, and similar subjects.

• Yearly openings: 45,800
• Earnings: $104,900 ($50.43 per hour)

2. Electrician

Electricians focus on wiring buildings for electrical power, lighting, or communications systems; they also maintain or repair those systems. They are highly skilled tradespeople who follow regulations and safety standards outlined in the National Electrical Code.

Many electricians work exclusively on residential or commercial structures that utilize low-voltage systems. Some specialize in the electrical wiring of factories or electrical equipment maintenance in other industrial settings (such as a power plant). Specially trained lineworkers work on high-voltage transmission and distribution lines.

To become a licensed journeyman electrician in most states, you'll need to complete an apprenticeship through an electrical contractor, union, or other employer or program that provides paid on-the-job training. Apprenticeship openings tend to be competitive. That's why many students choose to attend a technical or trade school first.

A pre-apprenticeship electrician program can teach you the basics about electricity, safety procedures, regulations, blueprint reading, tool usage, and much more. With that knowledge, you're more likely to be seen as a good candidate for a paid apprenticeship.

• Yearly openings: 80,200
• Earnings: $61,590 ($29.61 per hour)

3. Plumber, Pipefitter, or Steamfitter

In these trades, people focus on installing, adjusting, or repairing pipes and related equipment used for liquid or gas distribution. Most plumbers work in residential or commercial settings. Pipefitters and steamfitters work more often in industrial environments like power plants or manufacturing facilities, but many also perform work in large commercial buildings.

A plumber mostly works on systems that carry water, natural gas, or sewage. A pipefitter typically works on systems that carry more hazardous liquids or gases, including acids or chemicals. A steamfitter focuses on systems that keep gases or liquids flowing at high pressures.

Apprenticeships are the most common training programs for these trades. However, many people complete fundamental coursework at a trade, vocational, or technical school before applying for apprentice positions. Many local and state governments require licensure, especially if you want to work as an independent contractor.

• Yearly openings: 43,300
• Earnings: $61,550 ($29.59 per hour)

4. Industrial Machinery Mechanic

This type of skilled tradesperson specializes in fixing and maintaining machines used in industrial processes like advanced manufacturing or oil, gas, or chemical refining. Computerized industrial technology is often an integral part of the machinery on a production line. And a factory, industrial park, refinery, or similar work setting may have various kinds of powered mechanical systems and equipment that incorporate hydraulics, robotics, or other complex components.

To work in this trade, you need strong mechanical aptitude and usually, at minimum, a high school diploma. Getting some formal trade school training in industrial maintenance can make you a more appealing candidate to potential employers. Many programs even include some welding training, which can be a valuable skill in this line of work.

• Yearly openings: 53,000
• Earnings: $61,420 ($29.53 per hour)

5. HVAC Technician

In the HVAC trade, technicians specialize in repairing, installing, or carrying out preventive maintenance on systems for the heating, air conditioning, and ventilation of buildings. In addition, some HVAC techs, also known as HVACR techs, work on climate control systems for the commercial refrigeration of perishable goods.

HVAC training will typically teach you how to work with a wide variety of system components, including electrical wiring, motors, thermostats, blowers, burners, condensers, sheet metal, and more. Even the average furnace or air conditioner is becoming more sophisticated, requiring specialized skills to maintain and repair.

You can find HVAC trade schools nationwide that offer certificate, diploma, or associate degree programs in HVACR technology. Licensing requirements vary from state to state. But if you work with refrigerants, you'll need to gain Section 608 certification.

• Yearly openings: 42,500
• Earnings: $57,300 ($27.55 per hour)

6. Automotive Technician

Automotive technicians perform inspections, repairs, and maintenance on vehicles, whether small cars or large vehicles. Their tasks range from basic maintenance, such as routine vehicle service inspections, to complex mechanical or electrical repairs, including integrated diagnostics. Dealerships, independent repair shops, manufacturing facilities, and research and development centers all employ automotive technicians.

By earning certification through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), automotive technicians can gain a competitive advantage in the workplace. Obtaining ASE certification recognizes a professional's skills and knowledge meet a widely accepted standard.

• Yearly openings: 67,800
• Earnings: $47,770 ($22.96 per hour)

Big Demand for Many of America's Highest Paid Trades

Over recent years, employer surveys have found that skilled trade jobs are among the hardest to fill. And in many regions throughout the U.S., a shortage of qualified tradespeople is becoming the new norm, especially as many older workers from the Baby Boomer generation continue to retire.

In fact, numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey show that, in 2023, half of all American tradespeople in the repair, maintenance, and construction sectors were over the age of 41. In the utilities sector, the median age of tradespeople was 43.

As a result, many growing industries are actively recruiting the next generation of tradesmen and women. High-tech manufacturing, construction, and energy companies are just a few examples. Employers in the technology and health care sectors also need a growing number of qualified workers with skills often learned through a trade school education.

And you can probably imagine what would happen if America didn't have qualified people in the trades or other essential vocations. Everything that we rely on for our way of life would begin to crumble. From pipes and electricity to hospitals and medical labs to data servers and local computer networks, almost our entire modern infrastructure is built, maintained, and repaired by skilled workers. It's the type of work that, in many cases, cannot simply be outsourced overseas. It must be done locally.

That's why a lot of the highest paying trade school careers also have bright outlooks going forward. The market for people with these skills is expected to be very large for decades to come.