In short
Electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, carpenters and auto technicians are strong trades to learn because they combine solid pay with a large number of openings each year, according to BLS projections for 2025 to 2035. Electricians, for example, earn a median of $63,190 with about 72,700 openings a year.
Trades with the most openings
| # | Job | Median pay | Typical way in | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maintenance and repair workers, general (BLS) | $49,590 | High school or GED | 4.2% | 148,700 |
| 2 | Construction laborers (BLS) | $47,120 | No diploma needed | 7.3% | 120,000 |
| 3 | Electricians | $63,190 | High school or GED | 9.2% | 72,700 |
| 4 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $50,620 | Certificate | 5% | 66,200 |
| 5 | Carpenters (BLS) | $60,580 | High school or GED | 3.9% | 62,800 |
| 6 | Industrial machinery mechanics (BLS) | $64,520 | High school or GED | 17.8% | 44,400 |
| 7 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | $63,800 | High school or GED | 6.8% | 42,000 |
| 8 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $61,010 | Certificate | 10.9% | 40,600 |
| 9 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (BLS) | $59,850 | High school or GED | 4.6% | 39,200 |
| 10 | Painters, construction and maintenance (BLS) | $49,400 | No diploma needed | 3% | 24,900 |
| 11 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (BLS) | $61,770 | High school or GED | 3.6% | 24,400 |
| 12 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (BLS) | $65,510 | High school or GED | 6.7% | 15,000 |
| 13 | Construction and building inspectors (BLS) | $74,690 | High school or GED | 0% | 14,800 |
| 14 | Cement masons and concrete finishers (BLS) | $57,020 | No diploma needed | 1.6% | 13,600 |
| 15 | Automotive body and related repairers (BLS) | $54,890 | High school or GED | 3.7% | 12,600 |
| 16 | Roofers (BLS) | $55,440 | No diploma needed | 5.3% | 12,000 |
| 17 | Highway maintenance workers | $50,260 | High school or GED | 3.4% | 11,800 |
| 18 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians (BLS) | $79,870 | Certificate | 5.4% | 11,400 |
| 19 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers (BLS) | $63,890 | Certificate | a decline of 3.3% | 11,300 |
| 20 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers (BLS) | $95,320 | High school or GED | 10.3% | 10,900 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 (Table 1.2), May 2025 median wages, retrieved 2026-10-09. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or switch fields.
What makes a trade worth learning
Lots of openings
More openings means more employers to choose from and an easier first job.
Pay that grows
Apprenticeship trades start low and climb. Look at the median, not the starting rate.
Work that stays local
Repair and installation have to happen where the building is, which makes them hard to move overseas.
A way in you can afford
Some trades pay you to train. Others need a school program first.
How to choose between them
Spend a day with someone in the trade if you can. Ask a local union hall or contractor whether they take helpers. Then compare two finalists side by side with the career comparison tool.
Questions people ask
What is the best trade to learn right now?
There is no single answer, but electricians stand out in the 2025 to 2035 projections for pairing a median above $60,000 with tens of thousands of openings a year.
What trade is easiest to get into?
Trades where BLS lists no formal credential, like construction laborer or painter, let you start quickly. See our easiest trades list.
Is it worth learning a trade at 40?
Often, yes. Apprenticeships accept adults, and many contractors value reliability over age.