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10 Highest-Paying & Best Trade Jobs

Trade jobs are a great way to make a living, especially if you like to work with your hands and enjoy working on projects that have an immediate benefit. There are many trade jobs out there and the field has been growing over the past few years. But which one is best suited for you? Here we’ll look at some of the best trade jobs on offer today so you can find out whether one of them could be right for you!

Highest Paying & Best Trade Jobs

Electrician

 Electrician checking the wires
Emmanuel Ikwuegbu / Unsplash

Electricians are a common trade that is in high demand. Electricians make an annual salary of $62,000 and can earn up to $100,000 per year. They are in high demand because they have the ability to work on commercial or residential properties and because of their ability to work with many different types of electrical systems.

Electricians must be able to read blueprints, understand wiring diagrams, be able to use electricity safely and efficiently, and have good hand-eye coordination when working with tools such as screwdrivers and wrenches.

An electrician’s job description may include installing transformers that produce high voltage electricity; replacing fuses; repairing electrical wires; installing new lights; testing circuits; repairing circuit breakers; cleaning out switches using a wire brush attachment on an electric drill; rewiring outlets after adding lamps or appliances like televisions or refrigerators into homes or businesses

Commercial Diver

Three scuba divers
Gerald Schömbs / Unsplash

Commercial diving is another great option for those who enjoy working in water but not as a scuba instructor. Divers may have to deal with low visibility and other challenging conditions, but the pay is competitive and job security is high.

A commercial diver can be hired to inspect and repair oil rigs, bridges, ship hulls, and other large structures that need repairs in hard-to-reach areas. They also work on underwater pipelines and equipment that needs to be inspected or maintained. Some divers are even hired by aquariums to clean up debris from their exhibits periodically.

Roofer

Man working on a roof
Zohair Mirza / Unsplash

Roofers are responsible for installing, repairing, and maintaining roofs. Roofing is a trade that requires a lot of physical labor and the ability to work at heights. If you want to become a roofer, it’s important to develop strong communication skills so that you can communicate clearly with your supervisor.

Roofers may need to replace old roofs or install new roofs on homes or buildings. The following jobs may also be available:

  • Lead worker/foreman – supervises other workers and coordinates their activities
  • Tile layer – installs flat tiles in place of shingles
  • Shingler – lays single-ply sheathing (felt) over wood rafters

HVAC Technician

Hands checking heating control
Alexandra_Koch / Pixabay

HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in homes and businesses.

HVAC technicians are responsible for the installation and maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in homes and businesses. Their responsibilities include installing new equipment; testing existing units to ensure they’re working correctly; repairing or replacing defective parts; overseeing repairs made by others; ensuring that all systems meet safety codes; keeping records of work performed on each job site or business location so that any issues with the system can be tracked down if there is a problem later on due to faulty installation or maintenance practices

Licensed Practical Nurse

Nurse in blue scrub suit in an hospital hallway
Hush Naidoo Jade Photography / Unsplash

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are hands-on caregivers who take care of people in hospitals, nursing homes, and many other healthcare facilities. In addition to providing direct patient care, LPNs also assist doctors with treatments like taking vital signs and starting IVs, as well as perform administrative tasks like filing medical records.

As a licensed practical nurse (also known as an LPN), you will work under the supervision of registered nurses or physicians on a variety of nursing units throughout the hospital.

Depending on your role and where you work, your responsibilities may include helping patients get dressed and bathe themselves; assisting them with their daily activities such as eating meals; monitoring for signs of illness or distress; administering medications; drawing blood samples; collecting specimens for testing; maintaining accurate records pertaining to patient health status (e.g., vital signs); communicating test results back to attending physicians; performing basic wound care procedures such as dressing wounds or changing bandages; performing EKGs on hospitalized patients who need emergency treatment after cardiac arrest episodes while waiting for emergency department staff members to arrive at their bedsides

Elevator Mechanic

Mechanic checking wires and the metals
Nina Mercado / Unsplash

An elevator mechanic is responsible for repairing and maintaining elevators, escalators, and other moving stairs. They ensure that the equipment works safely and efficiently, and they also ensure that it’s properly maintained to prevent problems.

Elevator mechanics typically work in large buildings like office towers or apartment buildings with many floors. You might need to be able to walk long distances every day if you work on high-rise projects in cities like New York City or Miami.

If you love working with machines and enjoy solving problems, this could be just the job for you!

Plumber

Plumber repairing the sink
fran1 / Pixabay

Plumbing is in high demand right now, and that’s good news for anyone who wants a job. You’ll be able to find work with little or no experience, and your salary will climb quickly as you gain experience. Plumbers can work on their own or as part of a team, in the field, or in an office. Some plumbers choose to specialize in areas like water quality testing, drain cleaning or storm drains.

Plumbing is a field that has many different aspects to it. From doing simple repairs to building brand-new structures, the possibilities are endless. If you’re interested in working with your hands and fixing things, plumbing could be a good choice for you.

Cement Mason or Concrete Finisher

Cement Mason working on bricks
Bermix Studio / Unsplash

Cement masons, also known as concrete finishers or tile setters, form and secure concrete to walls and floors with mortar. In this position, you’ll need a strong knowledge of the materials you’re working with as well as how to read blueprints so that you can lay tiles or apply plasterwork correctly. You’ll also need to be skilled at measuring angles accurately before making cuts on any surfaces where they’re needed (a common practice in this line of work).

In many ways, becoming a cement mason is similar to becoming an electrician: On top of having some experience doing manual labor jobs before applying for such an occupation (such as working for your father’s construction company), it’s important that applicants possess strong problem-solving skills since there will inevitably be times when problems arise during construction projects. Additionally, it may also be beneficial if applicants have expertise in using specific tools related to their job description (e.g., trowels and hammers).

Bicycle Repairman

Man repairing a bicycle wheels
Egor Myznik / Unsplash

Bicycle repairman is an exciting job that gives you the opportunity to fix bicycles and help people. If you have a knack for tinkering, this could be your perfect fit.

Bicycle repairmen are able to diagnose problems and come up with solutions, which means they need a good understanding of how bikes work. They also have to be comfortable with taking things apart, putting them back together again, or finding replacement parts for broken ones. Additionally, all bicycle repairmen must know how much money it costs to buy supplies like tires and tubes so that they can estimate how much their customers owe them before finishing a job.

Finally (and most importantly), bicycle repairmen should always keep safety in mind when working on bikes because if something falls apart while being repaired then someone could get hurt!

Salaries vary depending on where you live but overall they tend towards $30k-$40k per year not including tips received during busy seasons such as summertime when everyone wants their old bike fixed up before hitting the road next time around

Agricultural Engineer

Agricultural engineer checking the plants
Kawê Rodrigues / Unsplash

Do you like helping others? Are you interested in science and technology? If so, agricultural engineering could be the perfect career choice for you. Agricultural engineers help farmers increase crop yields and animal production. They use computer models and other tools to help farmers make better decisions about things like planting schedules, fertilizers, water supplies, pesticides, and more.

Agricultural engineers also provide advice on how to improve the efficiency of equipment used in farming operations such as tractors or harvesters. They may work with inventors who create new technologies for use on farms or even develop new technology themselves!

Which trade is most in demand?

Male carpenter with tools on a leather tool belt
Callum Hill / Unsplash

While many trades are in demand, there are a few that stand out. If you’re looking for a job where you can keep your skills sharp and work on projects of all sizes, consider one of these trades:

  • Electrician
  • Roofer
  • HVAC technician (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
  • Carpenter or cabinetmaker
  • Plumber or pipefitter
  • Cement mason or concrete finisher

If you have an engineering background and want to apply it in a more practical way than just designing technical systems for companies to use at their factories, try agricultural engineering. Or if you love working with machinery but don’t want to deal with heavy construction equipment (or even the people driving it), consider becoming an elevator mechanic.

Are trade jobs in demand?

Carpenter working on woods
Detmold / Pixabay

Yes. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for trade jobs is increasing. The number of job openings for trade jobs has increased by 12 percent over the past decade, and the number of people employed in this field has gone up by 10 percent during that time period. Additionally, more people are seeking jobs in trades: The number of people looking for a trade job has increased by 14 percent since 2005.

What is the high-paying trade job?

Man repairing an electric outlet
jarmoluk / Pixabay

The high-paying trade job is an electrician. The average annual salary for an electrician is $59,520, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most states require you to be licensed or certified in order to work as an electrician. There are many different types of electrical work you can do with this skill set, including commercial and residential installation, repair and maintenance services, industrial wiring, and control systems operations (which includes robots).

The second highest paying trade job is a commercial diver. Commercial divers earn an average salary of $57,000 per year working underwater anywhere from two days to two weeks on a project before getting some shore time again.

They’re responsible for inspecting underwater structures such as bridges or ships; inspecting pipelines; checking out seabed conditions for other purposes such as construction; removing debris from ships’ hulls; installing buoys into water bodies like lakes or rivers; cleaning up oil spills using vacuum cleaners that suck up oil slicks; repairing pipes under pressure using special suits called immersion suits which allow them to move around freely while submerged into dangerous waters without having air tanks attached at all times (these suits are very expensive).

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many trade jobs out there if you want to be a part of the workforce. The best one for you will depend on your interests and what kind of pay you want. If you want a more stable job with higher pay then becoming an electrician might be right up your alley!