Career field
Skilled Trades Jobs in the USA
Skilled trades build, install, maintain and repair the physical world, and many offer a path to good pay without a four-year degree. The field includes electricians, plumbers and pipefitters, HVAC technicians, welders, carpenters, automotive and diesel mechanics, machinists, line workers and building maintenance technicians. The traditional route is a registered apprenticeship, where you earn wages while learning on the job and in classes; Apprenticeship.gov from the US Department of Labor lists programs by trade and location. Community colleges and trade schools offer certificates that can shorten the path. Many trades require a state or local license, and the steps from apprentice to journeyman to master are set by each state. Expect physical work, safety training such as OSHA 10 or OSHA 30, and sometimes travel to job sites. Union and non-union employers both hire, and union jobs usually follow a published wage scale you can look up through the local.
Updated
Latest skilled trades job openings
Common skilled trades job titles
Select a title to search current openings.
Skills employers ask for
Skills that appear often in postings for this field. Check each posting for its exact requirements.
- Reading blueprints and schematics
- Hand and power tool safety
- OSHA safety training
- Electrical or mechanical troubleshooting
- Building codes
- Measuring and math
- Welding processes (MIG, TIG, stick)
- Diagnostic equipment
- Physical stamina
- Customer communication on service calls
Skilled Trades pay: how to check what a job pays
Trade pay depends on license level, union status, overtime and region. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers each trade, apprenticeship programs state their wage progression, and union locals publish wage scales.
We do not publish salary averages of our own. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and our salary negotiation guide.
Skilled Trades jobs by city
Explore major US job markets, or search remote openings.
Watch out for job scams
Real employers never charge you to apply. Walk away if you see any of these:
- You are asked to pay for training, equipment, a background check or an application fee.
- They send a check and ask you to buy equipment from their vendor or send part of it back.
- The 'job' is receiving money into your account, or packages at home, and forwarding them.
- You get an offer without a real phone or video interview, often after a chat-only exchange.
Skilled Trades jobs: frequently asked questions
How do I start an apprenticeship?
Search Apprenticeship.gov for registered programs in your trade and area, contact union locals and contractor associations, and check community college programs. Most require a high school diploma or equivalent and passing an aptitude test or interview.
Do I need a license to work in a trade?
Many trades, especially electrical, plumbing and HVAC, require a state or local license, and you usually start as a registered apprentice working under a licensed professional. Rules vary by state.
Are trade jobs in demand?
Employers in many regions report difficulty filling skilled trade roles. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook gives the projected outlook for each trade so you can compare.
Will a trade school guarantee me a job?
No school can guarantee a job. Ask schools for their completion and placement rates, check whether credits count toward a registered apprenticeship, and compare costs before enrolling.
Job search guides
Plain-English guides for job seekers in the US.
- Spot job scamsLearn the warning signs of fake job offers in the US: fake check and equipment scams, pay-to-train schemes, reshipping and task scams, and how to report them to the FTC and IC3.
- US resume guideA practical guide to the American resume: one or two pages, no photo, the sections recruiters expect, how applicant tracking systems read it, and how to tailor it to each job.
- Interview preparationPrepare for phone, video and in-person interviews in the US: research the employer, answer common and behavioral questions with the STAR method, ask good questions and follow up.
- Salary negotiationHow to research fair pay in the US, answer salary expectation questions, compare total compensation and negotiate a job offer politely, with sample wording.
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