Trade jobs that pay $100,000+

Hey! Last week, I had the privilege of interviewing the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, Jennifer Abruzzo! My goal was to get an answer to a question that’s crossed all our minds: Can we legally discuss our pay?

Abruzzo’s answer: Yes…but the details can be confusing. Make sure you’re subscribed to our YouTube channel to get the full answer when the video comes out! 

3 High-Paying Trade Jobs (With Low Barriers to Entry)

Pop Quiz: What’s a career path that can go up to six figures, doesn’t require a traditional four-year college degree, and is in high demand? 

Trade jobs. 

That’s right. In trade jobs, you’ll typically learn the necessary skills through apprenticeships, on-the-job training, or vocational schools (and some will pay you to go to school). It’s not uncommon for these positions to pay up to six figures as your seniority and experience grows. 💰

But which trade jobs pay the highest? And which ones have the lowest barriers to entry? 

We’ve got your answer. We pulled salary information from multiple sources including the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and our salary database (with over 7,000 individually reported salaries!), and here’s what we found: 

1) Aircraft Mechanic 

The next time your flight survives a bumpy landing, don’t just clap for the pilots—clap for the aircraft mechanics, too. These professionals maintain, repair, and inspect everything to ensure your aircraft is safe to fly, from landing gear to engines to electrical systems. 

The requirements: Apart from being very precise (there’s little room for error when it comes to a plane’s brakes 🙃), you’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent and a certification from a Part 147 FAA-approved aviation maintenance school. 

As for the pay? The median annual salary is $105,596…but the potential pay can go up to $142,000. 

2) Sonographer 

Imagine earning up to $128,000 to look at other people’s insides. That’s the world of sonography, where medical trade workers use ultrasound technology to create images of internal organs, tissues, and blood flow patterns. 

To become a sonographer, you’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent and, depending on the company and state, a sonography certification from an accredited sonography program (federal grants are available to help cover the cost!). 

3) IT System Administrator 

Picture an IT system administrator as a computer's digital guardian. 💂 They make sure the company’s computer systems, networks, and infrastructure are running like a well-oiled machine. 

When data breaches happen or a computer system needs an upgrade, they’re who you call. And employers are willing to pay good money to have these professionals nearby: up to $116,000 a year, to be exact. 

Curious about becoming an IT system administrator? While most companies will require a high school diploma or equivalent, some will hire you if you have experience working in an IT support role. 

Are those the only six-figure trade jobs? 

Not even close. We just scratched the surface of all the high-paying trade jobs…and there are a lot more. From massage therapists to graphic designers, our guide covers a dozen more high-paying trade jobs with low barriers to entry that could alter the trajectory of your career. 

Get the full list right here! 

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Speaking of high-paying trade jobs… 🔧

…our compilation of interviews with workers in trade jobs is sure to surprise you and give you important perspectives. A few notable quotes: 

➜ From a roofer earning $70,000: “Don’t be a roofer. It’s tough on the body. I’m 32 years old and feel like I’m 90.” 

➜ From a dog groomer with a $90,000-a-year business: “The worst parts are the carpal tunnel…and I’ve been bitten before.” 

➜ From apprentice union electricians making $54 an hour: “You get paid to go to school. You get paid when you’re at school. And when we graduate, we’ll make $109,000 a year.” 

To hear the details of these professions (and dozens more!) check out our video: 

• Samsung workers in South Korea are on an “indefinite” strike. Over 6,000 union workers walked off the job after the company failed to respond to demands for higher pay and better working conditions. Consider us Team Android until the workers get what they demand.

• It’s a good day to be a Costco employee. Costco hourly workers in the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada are getting a $1 per hour pay bump, raising the starting wage to $19.50 an hour. For context, the median Costco worker earns around $50,000 annually, while those at Walmart and Target earn closer to $26,000. 

• Experience not necessary. More US companies are making experience and education optional in their job postings to attract more candidates. The good news: It opens up opportunities for previously overlooked candidates. The bad news: It could be a way for companies to offer lower salaries to less experienced candidates to cut their costs. 

• A cognition test for NFL players could be coming to your industry. The S2 is a high-speed exam designed to measure an athlete's decision-making abilities…and now, companies are considering using the test in their own hiring processes.

Thanks for being here! We’re planning our summer tour and looking at new states (and countries) to hit for interviews. Should yours be next? Hit reply and let us know! We’d love to pay you a visit. 💚

See you next week!