GraduateSmart
GraduateSmart
No 4-year degree required — and that's a feature, not a fallback
Skilled trades typically start earning $45-75K straight out of high school with little or no debt. Many trades earn more than the median college grad by age 30. Look for paid apprenticeships (IBEW for electricians, UA for plumbers/pipefitters, local trade unions) — you earn while you learn instead of paying tuition.
$73K/yr
Average Salary
1 years
Years of Education
+9%
Job Growth
819K+
Total Jobs
Install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems.
$40K
Starting
$73K
Average
$106K
Senior
High School Diploma or GED
Foundation requirement for all pathways
Trade / Vocational Program
6–18 months of hands-on technical training
Apprenticeship or License
State licensing exam required for most trade careers
Start your career
Entry-level positions and internships
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Field
Trades & Skilled Labor
Required Degree
Trade / Vocational
Time in School
1 years
Job Demand
10-Year Job Growth
+9%
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Create free account →Federal labor-market data for Electrician
Pay range
$40K–$106K
10th–90th percentile
Job growth
+9%
projected 2024–2034
Number of jobs
819K
in 2024
Faster than average
Above-average demand growth expected. Projected to grow from 819K to 892K jobs by 2034.
Typical duties
Read the full duties, work environment, and education requirements on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Open BLS page →
Direct match. Median $62,350; **9% growth — much faster than average**. **818,700 jobs — largest skilled trade**.