In the aftermath of the global upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2023 has seen a heightened emphasis on the importance of job stability, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and securing competitive salaries. Many people are finding job stability and high salaries in an unexpected place: trade jobs.
A trade job isn’t necessarily synonymous with backbreaking physical labor. While many do entail manual work, this isn’t the defining characteristic of trade careers.
A trade job just means that the technical skills needed can be acquired through apprenticeships, vocational schools, community colleges, or specialized programs, rather than requiring a bachelor’s degree. After deciding on a specific trade job, you can search for a suitable program that offers the necessary skill training. Upon completing the program, you are prepared to enter the workforce in that particular field.
What are the highest paying trade jobs in 2023?
What are the highest-paying trade jobs then? Our list has a wide variety of trade jobs, featuring the more traditional trades, like electricians and plumbers, along with occupations within the medical, legal, and tech fields.
The U.S. national median salary is $58,1368 per year; however, most jobs on our list exceed this amount.
In addition to competitive salaries, these jobs also offer considerable job security. Over the next 10 years, these jobs will have thousands of new job openings every year.
Let’s take a look at these technical professions that offer high incomes and dependable job security. Here are 20 of the highest paying trade jobs available today.
1. Air Traffic Controller
National Annual Mean Wage: $130,840
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $133,400
Air traffic controllers are the crossing guards of the sky, coordinating and monitoring aircraft in the air and on the ground.
You may not immediately associate this with a trade job, but air traffic controllers require specialized training. Additionally, you do not need a bachelor’s degree to become an air traffic controller. While it is one of the accepted methods, other pathways include:
- three years of work experience
- three years of work experience and some college
- a degree from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Collegiate Training Initiative School
If you are accepted into the FAA training program, you will be required to complete the training courses at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.
While this career path has many benefits, its popularity has led to intense competition. This means that even after completing the training courses, securing a job as an air traffic controller might prove challenging.
2. Commercial Pilot
National Annual Mean Wage: $123,250
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $114,530
If you dream of flying, you can become a pilot by going to a trade school. Professional Pilot Programs provide the training to be a licensed FAA airplane, helicopter, or aircraft pilot.
Helicopter pilots usually start off as flight instructors. More experienced helicopter pilots can get jobs in many areas such as law enforcement, firefighting and rescue, emergency medical services, and sightseeing tours.
Aviation school isn’t cheap, but it could be worth an adventurous career in one of the highest paying trade jobs.
3. Elevator and Escalator Mechanic
National Annual Mean Wage: $93,960
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $123,910
Regular maintenance is crucial for elevators and escalators, a task that falls under the expertise of elevator and escalator mechanics, specializing in installation and repair work. This profession ranks among the highest-paying trade jobs within the repair-related trades throughout the United States.
Nearly all elevator and escalator mechanics learn the skills of the trade through an apprenticeship, with most states mandating licensure. After that, elevator and escalator mechanics have the option to pursue additional certifications if they desire.
4. Web Developer
National Annual Mean Wage: $87,580
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $77,360
Increasingly, businesses across diverse industries recognize the necessity of an online presence through a website, regardless of their products or services. Consequently, the demand for web developers has surged. Responsible for the creation and upkeep of websites, these professionals play a critical role in a business’s success.
Not all web developers pursued a college education. While some completed their education after high school, others obtained bachelor’s degrees and more advanced qualifications. Similarly, web developer positions have varying requirements, with some employers seeking candidates with degrees in programming or computer science, while others prioritize evidence of skill and expertise.
You also can acquire these skills without even stepping out of your home. Being a modern trade job, it’s apt that you can learn these skills through modern means, leveraging the internet. With resources like YouTube videos and online courses, everything you need is easily accessible at your fingertips.
5. Dental Hygienist
National Annual Mean Wage: $84,860
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $83,850
Dental hygienists play a key role in cleaning and examining patients’ teeth. They are usually the primary professionals you encounter at the dentist’s office, performing tasks such as applying fluoride, removing plaque, and providing guidance on oral hygiene.
Dental trade jobs require a lot of skill and precision. A dental hygiene program typically spans two to three years long and results in an associate’s degree.
6. Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer
National Annual Mean Wage: $82,770
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $109,430
Community-wide power outages are never enjoyable. Yet, they serve as reminders of the essential role played by power-line installers and repairers. These professionals are responsible for setting up and upkeeping the intricate network that delivers electricity from power plants to our neighborhoods. Working with high-voltage electricity, power-line installers engage in a perilous trade that involves climbing poles and transmission towers to access power lines and equipment.
Another similar job is a telecommunications line installer and repairer. Instead of fixing power lines, they install and repair phone, cable, and internet lines. The national average salary of a telecommunications line installer is $64,280 and $90,030 in Hawai’i.
7. Respiratory Therapist
National Annual Mean Wage: $74,310
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $85,140
Respiratory therapists care for and help patients who have trouble breathing. For example, they work with patients with asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and Covid-19. They test lung capacity, treat patients, and teach patients how to use the necessary equipment to continue treatment at home.
Respiratory therapy programs take about three years to complete and lead to an associate’s degree. Respiratory therapists can advance their career to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), earning an even higher salary.
8. Aircraft Mechanic
National Annual Mean Wage: $72,640
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $77,270
Just like auto mechanics, aircraft mechanics repair and maintain engines and parts. Instead of cars, they repair airplanes, helicopters, and avionics equipment. Working with this specialized equipment also leads to a higher salary than auto or diesel mechanics.
Aircraft mechanics learn their trade at aviation maintenance technician schools, which takes about two years to complete. These programs lead to certification and often an associate’s degree.
9. Radiologic Technologist
National Annual Mean Wage: $70,240
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $88,440
Radiologic technologists, also known as radiographers or x-ray technicians, specialize in x-ray and CT imaging. Trade programs teach radiologic technologists how to prepare patients for x-ray procedures and operate the equipment to take the x-ray scan.
After several years of experience, radiologic technologists can specialize as MRI technologists. The annual average salary of an MRI technologist is $81,530 nationally and $103,650 in Hawai’i.
10. Construction and Building Inspector
National Annual Mean Wage: $70,130
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $80,700
Construction and building inspectors review building plans, monitor construction sites, and inspect plumbing and electrical systems. They ensure everything meets local and national codes. Much of the workday is spent examining worksites. Inspectors also spend time in the office reviewing blueprints and documenting reports.
Many inspectors have experience as carpenters, electricians, or plumbers. Some employers may prefer to hire inspectors with this first-hand experience. However, it is also possible to get an associate’s degree in building inspection technology and learn the trade skills through on-the-job training.
11. Occupational Therapy Assistant
National Annual Mean Wage: $66,280
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $68,200
An occupational therapy assistant is another great high-paying trade job that only requires an associate’s degree.
A two-year program can lead to a career as an occupational therapy assistant. They help patients develop, recover, improve, and maintain the skills and movements needed for daily living and working. In addition, they teach patients therapeutic exercises that the patients can continue to do at home.
With a master’s degree, you can become an occupational therapist. The average wage for occupational therapists is $92,800 nationally and $96,600 in Hawai’i.
12. Electrician
National Annual Mean Wage: $65,280
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $88,630
Electricians have an incredible amount of job security, and the demand for electricians is increasing as well. Any building that has electrical power needs an electrician to wire and install the electrical system.
Electricians learn the skills through electrician trade school programs or through apprenticeships. Like with many other trade programs, it may lead to an associate’s degree and credit towards an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships last four to five years. After that, electricians then make even more money when they advance to journey-level workers.
13. Health Information Technician
National Annual Mean Wage: $65,280
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $60,270
Health information technicians keep track of lots of data. This top-paying job involves organizing and managing patient health records at hospitals and healthcare facilities. They do a lot of important work like making sure insurance documentation is done properly. It’s all private information so they also need to keep everything confidential.
To become a health information technician, you will go to a health information technology trade program that are often available at community colleges. After completing the program, you must take an exam to get certified. One of the approved exams is the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam.
You can advance your career to a health services manager by getting a bachelor’s degree, which have an average salary of $127,980 nationally and $125,690 in Hawai’i.
14. Plumber
National Annual Mean Wage: $65,190
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $76,503
Plumbers help provide us with one of the greatest modern conveniences: running water. They install and fix pipes and plumbing fixtures that we use every day like bathtubs, showers, toilets, sinks, dishwashers, and water heaters.
Plumbers learn the trade through apprenticeship programs, a trade school, or a combination of the two. To show that they can work independently, plumbers must first pass a required licensing exam before becoming journey-level plumbers.
15. Physical Therapist Assistant
National Annual Mean Wage: $64,510
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $64,160
Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) help patients who are recovering from injuries. PTAs teach patients exercises to help them regain movement and manage pain.
The number of people over 65 years old is expected to almost double between now and 2060. As a result, many of the highest paying trade jobs in the medical field have a lot of job stability. Over the next decade, the number of physical therapist assistant jobs is expected to grow by 33%.
PTAs work under the supervision of physical therapists. PTA training programs take about two years to complete and lead to an associate’s degree. If you want an even higher salary, you can become a physical therapist. You will need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to become a physical therapist. That career has an average salary of $97,960 nationally and $100,130 in Hawai’i.
16. Paralegal
National Annual Mean Wage: $62,840
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $59,690
If you have an interest in law, a career as a paralegal might suit you. They work closely with lawyers to prepare for hearings, trials, and meetings. They help research laws and regulations, gather evidence, and summarize reports.
Paralegals can specialize in areas including family law, real estate, criminal law, and personal injury.
To learn the skills, you will enroll in a paralegal studies course. You don’t need to have a bachelor’s degree but if you have one, you can take a shorter certification course to enter the trade.
17. Millwright
National Annual Mean Wage: $61,750
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: —
Millwrights install and assemble large machinery and heavy equipment. They unload, inspect, and move the equipment and use blueprints to assemble all of the parts. Millwrights then maintain and repair the equipment they install. When a worksite doesn’t need the machinery anymore, millwrights take it apart.
Millwrights learn the skills through industrial maintenance two-year degree programs or through apprenticeships, which are around four years.
18. Rigger
National Annual Mean Wage: $58,700
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $66,710
Riggers set up equipment and machinery and make sure that everything is attached properly and safely. Riggers attach pieces of heavy machinery using ropes, cables, chains, and pulleys. They can work at a variety of sites including construction sites, shipyards, manufacturing plants, and film sets.
Riggers have a physically demanding trade job. For instance, they need to be able to move around in small spaces and lift upwards of 50 pounds. Riggers usually gain the skills through apprenticeships and on-the-job training.
19. HVAC Technician
National Annual Mean Wage: $57,460
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $71,310
HVAC technicians heat and cool our indoor spaces. They install and fix heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems in homes, businesses, and buildings, but they don’t just work with buildings; HVAC technicians can heat cool any place such as the inside of large tractor-trailers. They make sure that perishable goods are transported properly in a climate-controlled environment.
HVAC technicians learn the skills through an apprenticeship or a trade school. HVAC programs last from six months to two years while apprenticeships usually last three-five years.
20. Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurse
National Annual Mean Wage: $55,860
Hawai’i Annual Mean Wage: $55,730
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) provide basic medical care. They monitor patients’ health and give basic patient care.
What’s the difference between an LPN and LVN? Nothing. They are the same position; California and Texas use the title LVN while the other states use the term LPN. They work under registered nurses (RNs) and doctors.
An LPN or LVN program takes about a year to complete. Students must pass the NCLEX-PN exam to become licensed. LPNs and LVNs can advance their career to become registered nurses by enrolling in an RN program. RNs have an average annual salary of $89,010 nationally and $113,220 in Hawai’i.
What’s the next step towards a top paying trade job?
This is just a glimpse into some of the highest paying trade jobs that you can get. These aren’t just great paying trade jobs; they are high paying jobs. Period. In just a few years, you can become eligible to work any one of these trade jobs.
Once you have identified your preferred trade, the path to employment can be quite straightforward. This is because trade schools provide precise, industry-specific skills, meaning that you do not need to worry whether you will meet the job requirements. The trade program will provide you with the training to become immediately employable.
Even if you already have a degree, pursuing a trade is still a viable option worth considering. Your degree and qualifications may enable you to move towards a managerial role within the industry. Integrating your education with newly acquired technical skills can significantly broaden your career prospects.
National and Hawai’i mean wage data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment Statistics survey.
