How much do trade workers really make?

We hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. 💚 James and I spent our Labor Day recording for our new podcast, Two Cents!  

Last week, we covered how much we earn, if James believes he’s underpaid 👀, and how we really feel about copycat accounts. 

Tomorrow, we’re giving our two cents on the not-so-demure trademark scandal (including how much our trademark cost) and how your annual salary could be robbing you. Get the tea (served piping hot 🫖) right here. 

The 3 Highest Paying Trade Jobs From LaborFest 2024

Last week, James and I visited LaborFest in Indianapolis to ask trade workers an important pair of questions: “What do you do for a living? How much do you make?” 

From air traffic controllers to musicians and engineers to teachers, the trades offer something for everyone. It’s no wonder 34.7 million people had a job in the trades in May 2022—and that number is only getting bigger! Two of the fastest-growing jobs (each with over 45% projected growth) are both in the trades, per Business Insider.

We interviewed a dozen talented trade professionals at LaborFest who were all earning a solid living wage. Here are the top three highest-paying jobs we found: 

1. Union Electrician 

We met an electrician with 18 years of experience who’s part of the IBEW 481 union. Want to guess their hourly rate? $25? Maybe $40? 

Nope. It’s $74 an hour! 

While his base pay is $47.51 hourly, union benefits such as healthcare for the whole family, overtime pay, annual raises, and retirement bring the total package to $74 an hour. This is reason #481 why we 💚 unions. 

2. Union Insulators 

Whether it’s 105° or 35°, we’ve got insulators to thank for keeping our homes from becoming saunas or ice boxes. These experts install the insulation that keeps our homes and other buildings comfortable. 

The insulators we met at LaborFest were part of the Local 18 union and earned a solid $64.23 an hour! 

That’s not all: Their union offers great benefits, such as a national and individual pension, so you get two retirement funds. And with their four-year (paid!) apprenticeship program, you’ll graduate with an associate’s degree debt-free. 

The field isn’t just exploding with jobs (shoutout to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal!) but is also looking to hire more women and minorities. We love to see it.

3. Union Plumber 

We met a plumber who’s been with the Local 440 union for 11 years. Their hourly rate started at $15 and they now earn $50—a 233% increase! 

Plus? He has a pension, 401(k), and great paid time off. If you want to use both your hands and your head to work in an essential service, this could be a great career path for you. 

These three jobs are just the tip of the trade iceberg. Watch our video to see how much trade workers really make! 

How much do we earn? Do we feel well compensated? And what’s our POV on copycats accounts…especially the ones who tag us unprompted in their videos? 🙃 

We spill it all in our latest episode of Two Cents! From revealing which of our business costs run well over six figures to what we think most creators do wrong, nothing is off limits in our new podcast. Follow on Instagram here!

• United Airlines flight attendants move closer to a strike. ✈️ 99.99% of United’s union members voted to authorize a strike, per Reuters. The flight attendants are fighting for a double-digit pay increase and compensation for all work hours—including time spent boarding, which is often unpaid.  

• Microsoft is shelling out for AI talent. 🦾 Business Insider found that Microsoft’s AI software engineers earn an average of $377,611 annually—about $120,000 more than their peers in other departments (i.e. Azure, Experiences and Devices, etc.). 

• Good news if you’re moving to (or live in) DC! 🏛️The nation’s capital (where we’re based!) ranked number one in the 2024 Best States to Work index, thanks to its high minimum wage and strong unemployment benefits.

• These are the 15 fastest-growing jobs in the US…and renewable energy is having a moment. 💨 Wind turbine service technicians and solar photovoltaic installers are about to be in major demand, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Thanks for being here! A heads-up that James and I are soon announcing our next “tour” dates. Keep your eyes peeled to see if we’re coming to your city–we’d love to meet you!