Choosing a trade career isn’t just about “liking to work with your hands.” It’s about paychecks, job security, where the work actually is, and how long it takes to get there. That’s why we created the Trade Industry Insights hub on TradeSchoolDudes.com — a central place where you can see real numbers on salaries, job growth, and apprenticeship outcomes before you sign up for a program or take on any debt.
Here, we break down how different trades pay across the country, which states are booming for welders and
electricians, how apprenticeships stack up against four-year degrees over a full career, and which trade schools go out of their way to support veterans. Instead of guessing or relying on marketing copy, you can use data to compare options and decide which path actually fits your goals.
This hub pulls together our best research-style content — the long-form guides and data breakdowns that go beyond “what does a welder do?” and focus on what really matters: income, demand, and return on investment. You’ll find:
Each study is written to be useful on its own, but they’re even more powerful when you connect them with the rest of TradeSchoolDudes — our state hubs, trade career guides, and the U.S. Trade Apprenticeships Database. Together, they give you both the “big picture” and the specific schools or apprenticeships you can actually apply to.
Think of Trade Industry Insights as your “zoomed-out” view. You can start here to see which trades pay the most, which states are hot for certain careers, or whether an apprenticeship might beat a degree in your situation. Once you have a direction in mind, you can:
If you’re a parent, counselor, or educator, this hub also makes it easier to answer the questions students are actually asking: “How much can I make?”, “Where are the jobs?”, and “Is trade school really worth it compared to college?” You can share individual studies or simply point them here to explore on their own.
We built Trade Industry Insights for anyone who wants honest, numbers-backed information about the trades:
high school students who don’t want a four-year degree, college students thinking about switching paths, working adults looking for a career change, veterans planning their next move, and parents who want something more concrete than “you should go to college because that’s what everyone does.”
We’re constantly updating this hub with new research, rankings, and salary studies as data changes. Bookmark this page and check back as we publish new deep dives on trade careers, state-level opportunities, and apprenticeship earnings. The trades are changing fast — our goal is to keep you ahead of it.
Curious which trades pay the most, where wages are strongest, and how trade careers stack up against four-year degrees over time? These studies focus on real-world earnings so you can plan a career around actual paychecks, not guesses.
At a Glance: Hours vs Pay in the Trades The catch: A trade that pays $80,000 on paper may require 55–60 hour weeks, while another hits similar income at 40–45 hours. Long-week trades: CDL trucking, linemen, heavy equipment, concrete/road work, and some construction roles often live on overtime. Best hourly balance: Electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, […]
Summary: Many of the best-paying trade careers welcome beginners with zero experience, short training programs, and clear paths to $60K–$100K+ in just a few years. This guide compares entry-level pay, training time, certification costs, and how often workers enter each trade with no prior background so you can choose a high-ROI starting point. You don’t […]
Quick Takeaway Over the past decade, linemen, aviation mechanics, and select industrial maintenance/sheet metal roles have seen the strongest wage growth, often outpacing inflation. Many other core trades—electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, welders—still pay well but have grown more slowly, meaning their real buying power is flat or slightly lower than 10 years ago. Over the […]
Quick Summary (2025) Many licensed trades—especially electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, linemen, aviation mechanics, and industrial maintenance techs—now match or exceed the median pay of popular bachelor’s degrees. Because trade workers start earning years earlier and take on far less debt, their real-world ROI often beats degrees in psychology, communications, biology, criminal justice, liberal arts, and […]
Skilled trades continue to stand out as one of the most accessible, reliable, and financially rewarding career paths in the United States. Unlike many four-year degree programs, trade careers allow workers to enter the field quickly—often in under two years—while benefiting from lower training costs and the ability to earn income early. As construction, transportation, […]
Salary matters, but so does demand. These reports look at which trades are growing fastest, which regions are hiring, and where there is the most long-term need for skilled workers.
At a Glance: Fastest-Growing Blue-Collar Jobs in 2025 What’s happening: Clean energy, broadband, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing are creating a surge in “quiet” technical trades. Who’s hiring: Utilities, solar and wind companies, chip manufacturers, municipalities, and automation-heavy warehouses and factories. Pay range: Most roles land between $45,000–$95,000, with top earners breaking into low six figures […]
Quick Summary (2025) Across most states, electricians, HVAC technicians, welders, diesel mechanics, and heavy equipment operators are among the hardest jobs to fill. Sun Belt and growth states lean toward electricians, HVAC, and CDL, while industrial and energy-heavy states show big demand for welders, diesel mechanics, and industrial maintenance roles. If you train into one […]
Summary: Skilled trades across the U.S. are facing severe worker shortages, with many occupations now showing fewer than one qualified worker for every open job. Using a simple Shortage Index based on job postings, retirements, training pipelines, and regional demand, this report highlights which trades have the largest gaps — and why that creates major […]
Summary: Between 2025 and 2030, federal laws like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act are expected to drive a surge in demand for skilled trades. This overview highlights the major programs, the states most likely to benefit, and the trades positioned for the strongest long-term job growth. […]
Summary: Many skilled trades across the U.S. are approaching a “retirement cliff” as large portions of their workforce near retirement age. This report outlines which trades have the oldest workers, which states face the highest risk of shortages, and how these trends create major opportunities for new apprentices and trainees. Across the U.S., many skilled […]
These studies compare training paths and highlight opportunities for specific groups of students, including those choosing between apprenticeships and college and veterans transitioning into the trades.
At a Glance: Who Comes Out Ahead? First 5–10 years: Apprenticeships typically win by a wide margin, thanks to four extra years of paid work and minimal debt. By Year 20: Many degree holders earn higher annual salaries, but apprentices can still hold a slight net lifetime earnings edge in realistic scenarios. Debt is the […]
Summary: Apprenticeships are the lowest-cost path in nearly every state because students earn wages during training instead of paying full tuition. Trade school costs vary widely, especially between public and private programs. Four-year colleges have the highest long-term costs due to tuition, books, and four years without full-time income. This guide compares each option across […]
Summary: Apprentices typically start around $15–$20 per hour and see steady wage increases each year as they gain skills, often reaching $50,000–$70,000+ by their final apprentice year and $70,000–$100,000+ as journeymen. This guide breaks down realistic Year 1–4 earnings, overtime impacts, and regional adjustments so you can compare apprenticeship pay to other career paths. Understanding […]
Summary: Some states offer much stronger apprenticeship ecosystems than others, with more programs, better wages, and higher completion rates. This ranking uses a composite score based on active apprentices, registered programs, completions, wages, and employer sponsorship to highlight where apprentices have the best chance to train, earn, and advance. Apprenticeships are one of the strongest […]
Summary: Apprenticeship graduates often see some of the largest early-career wage increases in the U.S. workforce. Many skilled trades—including electricians, plumbers, linemen, and HVAC techs—experience pay jumps of 100% or more the moment workers reach journeyman status. This guide compares entry-level apprentice wages to typical certified wages across top trades. One of the biggest financial […]
As you consider entering a trade career, one key question comes to mind: should I pursue an apprenticeship or enroll in a trade school? Both paths offer valuable training and can lead to rewarding careers, but they differ in structure, cost, and the opportunities they provide. Understanding the pros and cons of each can help […]
When considering a career in the skilled trades, one of the biggest decisions is whether to attend a trade school or pursue an apprenticeship. Both options provide the necessary training, but they differ in terms of cost, earning potential during training, and post-graduation salaries. Understanding these financial differences can help me choose the path that […]
Alright, fellas, let’s get real. You’re trying to figure out the best way to learn a trade and stack some cash. Maybe you’re eyeing something hands-on like plumbing, welding, or even carpentry. But here’s the big question: should you hit up a trade school or dive straight into an apprenticeship? These two paths aren’t the […]
New insights and research are added regularly. Bookmark this page or check back as we publish fresh data on trade careers, salaries, job growth, and apprenticeship opportunities across the U.S.
TradeSchoolDudes.com builds trade industry insights using the most recent data we can reasonably obtain from national labor and education sources, combined with our own verified database of U.S. trade schools and registered apprenticeships. Our goal is to translate raw numbers into clear, practical information that students, parents, and working adults can actually use.
Typical data sources for our studies include:
When necessary, figures are rounded for clarity, grouped into ranges, or averaged across multiple sources. We aim to update major salary and growth studies on a regular basis so they reflect the most current data available at the time of publication. However, local demand, employer needs, experience level, overtime, union membership, and certifications can all significantly affect actual earnings and job opportunities.
Rankings and comparisons on this page are intended for informational and planning purposes only. We recommend using this research as a starting point, then exploring our U.S. Trade Apprenticeships Database and state-by-state trade school guides to find specific programs, schools, and apprenticeships that match your goals in your region.
