CollegeRanker · Trades
Trades Careers — Salary, Growth & Degrees
Not every career needs a four-year degree — and the numbers prove it. Trade and vocational careers offer strong salaries, fast entry, and reliable demand. We mapped the programs and schools with the best outcomes.
13
Trades careers
8
Related degrees
$75,020
Top median salary
4
Rankings
Find Your Trades Program
Find Your Trades Program
Choose a degree, category, and subject to find accredited programs matched to your goals.
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Highest-Paying Trades Careers
Median salary from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are the roles where the credential pays for itself fastest.
Aircraft Mechanic
2 linked degrees →
Electrician
1 linked degrees →
Plumber
1 linked degrees →
Crane Operator
1 linked degrees →
Wind Turbine Technician
2 linked degrees →
Diesel Mechanic
1 linked degrees →
Fastest-Growing Trades Careers
BLS projected growth rates for 2023–2033. The roles where demand is outpacing supply.
Wind Turbine Technician
2 linked degrees →
Solar Panel Installer
2 linked degrees →
Dental Lab Technician
1 linked degrees →
Electrician
1 linked degrees →
HVAC Technician
1 linked degrees →
Aircraft Mechanic
2 linked degrees →
All Trades Careers
What the work pays, how fast it’s growing, and the degrees that lead there.
Electrician
1 linked degrees →
Plumber
1 linked degrees →
HVAC Technician
1 linked degrees →
Welder
1 linked degrees →
Carpenter
1 linked degrees →
Dental Lab Technician
1 linked degrees →
Wind Turbine Technician
2 linked degrees →
Solar Panel Installer
2 linked degrees →
Automotive Technician
1 linked degrees →
Aircraft Mechanic
2 linked degrees →
Crane Operator
1 linked degrees →
Diesel Mechanic
1 linked degrees →
Machinist
2 linked degrees →
Trades Rankings
Schools and programs ranked by real outcomes — earnings, mobility, and value. Not reputation.
Best Trade Schools
Best Vocational & Technical Schools
Best Community Colleges
Most Affordable Colleges
Related Degree Programs
The degrees that lead into trades careers — with school-level outcomes data.
Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor's · $99,510 median · 10% growth
Electrical Engineering
Bachelor's · $108,170 median · 5% growth
Industrial Engineering
Bachelor's · $99,380 median · 12% growth
Environmental Science
OnlineBachelor's · $76,480 median · 6% growth
Aerospace Engineering
Bachelor's · $130,720 median · 6% growth
Dental Hygiene
Associate's/Bachelor's · $87,530 median · 7% growth
Construction Management
OnlineBachelor's · $104,900 median · 5% growth
Aviation / Aeronautics
Bachelor's · $99,640 median · 4% growth
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Featured Trades Programs Accepting Applicants
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Use our program finder to explore accredited degrees that lead to trades careers — ranked by what graduates earn and achieve.
