The State of the Skilled Trades 2026
A data report on 16 skilled trades: pay, time and cost to qualify, and demand outlook. Every trade is entered through a paid apprenticeship — no degree, no tuition debt. Electricians lead on pay; HVAC qualifies fastest. Built on US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 data.
Key findings
- Of 16 skilled trades tracked, electricians earn the most at journeyman level — $52,000 to $85,000 a year in the US — with master electricians and business owners typically clearing the upper bound by 30–60%.
- Electrician, HVAC technician, and smart-home installer carry the strongest projected employment outlook ('Very High') through 2032, per US Bureau of Labor Statistics growth data.
- Every one of the 16 trades is entered through a paid apprenticeship: none requires a college degree or tuition debt, and trainees earn a wage from the first year.
- HVAC technician is the fastest skilled trade to qualify for, reaching journeyman level in a typical 4–5 years; most other trades take 4–8 years.
- Licensing is inexpensive — most trades require only $150–$500 in exam and license fees, versus tens of thousands of dollars in four-year-college tuition.
- A typical skilled-trade journeyman in the US earns roughly $48,000–$72,000 — comparable to many degree-track roles, but reached debt-free and several years sooner.
- By return on training time, electrician and HVAC stand out: a 4–6 year paid pathway to a $50,000–$85,000 journeyman wage with strong long-term demand.
- Local opportunity varies sharply by city: HireLocal's demand index scores every trade 0–100 by weighing estimated local demand — from occupational employment, population, and growth outlook — against the pros already working an area; the wider that gap, the easier it is for a newcomer to win clients.
Reference pricing table
| Service | City | Range | YoY | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | National, United States | $52,000–$85,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| HVAC Technician | National, United States | $50,000–$80,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Plumber | National, United States | $48,000–$78,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Smart Home Installer | National, United States | $46,000–$78,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Foundation Specialist | National, United States | $46,000–$76,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Carpenter | National, United States | $45,000–$72,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Concrete Mason | National, United States | $44,000–$72,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Roofer | National, United States | $42,000–$68,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | National, United States | $40,000–$65,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Painter | National, United States | $38,000–$62,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Pool & Spa Technician | National, United States | $38,000–$62,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Handyman | National, United States | $36,000–$62,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Pest Control Technician | National, United States | $36,000–$58,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Landscaper | National, United States | $35,000–$60,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| Mover | National, United States | $32,000–$55,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
| House Cleaner | National, United States | $28,000–$48,000 | — | BLS OOH 2024 |
Methodology & sources
Salary figures are US journeyman-level annual gross pay (25th–75th percentile) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. Time and cost to qualify reflect typical apprenticeship and state-licensing requirements. Demand outlook reflects projected employment growth through 2032 from the same source. The local demand index weighs modeled demand (BLS occupational employment × city population × growth outlook) against HireLocal's provider directory across the US, Poland, the Netherlands, and Spain. Pay scales with state, experience, and regulated specialty. Reviewed June 2026.
How to cite this report
When citing this report, please attribute as: HireLocal Research, The State of the Skilled Trades 2026 https://hirelocal.services/research/state-of-the-trades-2026 (2026-06-08).