In short
The middle pay for the trades on this site runs from $45,690 a year for medical assistants to $63,800 for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data (May 2025). Starting pay is lower than these medians, and pay varies by city. Fill out the form to see what training near you looks like.
Nine trades, side by side
| Trade | Median pay | How people usually learn | Growth, 2024 to 2034 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber and pipefitter | $63,800 a year $30.67 an hour | Paid apprenticeship, usually 4 to 5 years | 4% (average) |
| Electrician | $63,190 a year $30.38 an hour | Paid apprenticeship, usually 4 to 5 years | 9% (much faster) |
| Ironworker | $62,780 a year $30.18 an hour | Paid apprenticeship, 3 to 4 years, or employer training | 4% (average) |
| Diesel technician | $61,770 a year $29.70 an hour | On the job after high school; some employers prefer a program | 2% (slower) |
| HVAC technician | $61,010 a year $29.33 an hour | School program of 6 months to 2 years, then on-the-job training | 8% (much faster) |
| Truck driver | $58,640 a year $28.19 an hour | School, entry-level driver training, a CDL, then a mentor driver | 4% (average) |
| Welder | $53,750 a year $25.84 an hour | High school diploma plus technical and on-the-job training | 2% (slower) |
| Auto technician | $50,620 a year $24.34 an hour | Certificate or associate's program, or on the job | 4% (average) |
| Medical assistant | $45,690 a year $21.97 an hour | Certificate or associate's program, about 1 to 2 years | 12% (much faster) |
Median pay, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data (OEWS, May 2025), for all workers in each job. The raise calculator below uses the site's rounded stub numbers, so its result can differ from this table by a few hundred dollars.
Seen a trade you like?
Pick it on the clipboard. You'll see its pay on the pay stub before you fill out anything else.
How to read these numbers
Median means the middle. Line up everyone in the job from lowest paid to highest paid. The median is the person in the middle. It's not an average, and it's not what a new hire gets.
These are national. A plumber in a big city and a plumber in a small town don't earn the same. BLS publishes state and metro numbers for each job through its BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
Starting pay is lower. The median includes people with years of experience. Apprentices are paid while they learn, and they earn less than a finished journey-level worker until they finish.
Do the math on your raise
Put in what you make now, pick a trade, and see the gap. If the gap is small, or negative, it'll say so. This uses the median pay for the trade, which is for people with experience, not for your first year.
Do the math
Nothing here is saved or sent anywhere.
What you make now, per hourBased on 2,080 hours a year and BLS national median pay, rounded. Overtime, union scale, and location can push it higher.
What a median hides
Two examples from BLS show how wide the spread can be inside one trade. Among welders, the lowest 10% earned under $39,240 and the highest 10% earned over $77,530. Among medical assistants, the lowest 10% earned under $36,050 and the highest 10% earned over $59,310. The median sits between those, and where you land depends on your skills, your employer and your city.
The number also doesn't show how you earn it. Overtime is common for electricians. HVAC technicians work extra in the busy heating and cooling seasons. Plumbers are often on call. Some diesel technicians work more than 40 hours a week. Long-haul truck drivers can be away from home for days or weeks. Pay is one part of the picture. The trade pages cover the rest.
Questions about pay
Is median the same as average?
No. The median is the middle: half earn more and half earn less. An average can be pulled up by a few very high earners. The median isn't thrown off by a few very high earners.
Will I make this when I start?
No. These figures are for everyone in the job, including people with years of experience. Starting pay is lower, and apprentices earn less than journey-level workers while they train.
Where can I see pay for my city?
The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program publishes state and metro numbers for each job. Look up your job and your metro area.
Why isn't my trade on the list?
Not every trade has a page yet. Pick "Not sure yet" on the form and tell the school what you're after.