In short
These are U.S. median yearly wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024. Skilled trades cluster in the $50,000s to $60,000s; healthcare support jobs like dental and medical assisting are lower; truck driving has climbed to the high $50,000s. These are mid-career numbers, not starting pay, and they are national - your city or state may be above or below. Grants and apprenticeships can cover training, so the cost to enter is often far below the sticker price. Fill out the form to hear from schools near you.
National pay, side by side
| Job | Typical training | Low end (10%) | Median | High end (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber | 9–12 months or apprenticeship | Under about $40,670 | About $62,970 | Over about $105,150 |
| Electrician | 9–12 months or apprenticeship | Under about $39,430 | About $62,350 | Over about $106,030 |
| HVAC technician | 6–12 months | Under about $39,130 | About $59,810 | Over about $91,020 |
| Truck driver (heavy) | 3–7 weeks for a CDL | Under about $38,640 | About $57,440 | Over about $78,800 |
| Welder | 7–9 months | Under about $38,130 | About $51,000 | Over about $75,850 |
| Auto service technician | 6 months–2 years | Under about $33,660 | About $49,670 | Over about $80,850 |
| Dental assistant | 9–12 months | Under about $36,190 | About $47,300 | Over about $61,780 |
| Medical assistant | 9–12 months | Under about $35,020 | About $44,200 | Over about $57,830 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024, rounded. National medians and 10th/90th percentiles. These are not starting salaries, and they are not promises. All figures are before taxes.
How to read these numbers
Three things make the table above more honest than a single headline salary:
- The median is the middle, not the start. Half the people in the job earn more than the median and half earn less. Your first year out of school will usually be below it.
- The range is wide. Look at the gap between the 10th and 90th percentiles - in plumbing that's roughly $65,000. Experience, licenses, overtime, union work, and location move you up that range.
- Location matters. The same job can pay very differently two hours away. National numbers are a starting point; BLS also publishes pay by state and city, and your school can tell you what local employers are paying.
What pushes pay up after you start
Licenses and certifications
Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC techs often need a license or a certification to work independently or to run their own business. That requirement is also what keeps pay up, because not everyone can do it.
Overtime and shift work
Service calls after hours, weekend shifts, and busy seasons pay time and a half. A tech who takes the on-call rotation can out-earn one who doesn't, even at the same base rate.
Union and specialty work
Union apprenticeships and specialized commercial or industrial work (like commercial HVAC or pipefitting) usually pay above the median. They also take longer to enter and finish.
Going out on your own
Many tradespeople eventually start a small business. That can pay much more, but it brings customers, paperwork, insurance, and risk. It's an end goal for some, not a first step.
Want pay numbers for your area?
Schools near you know what local employers pay. Tell us what you're interested in and they'll reach out.
Questions about pay
Why do these numbers differ from ads I see?
Ads usually show the top of the range - senior, certified, or union workers - because a big number gets attention. These figures are the median from the government's wage survey, which is the middle of everyone actually doing the job. Both are real; they just answer different questions.
Will I really earn the median right after school?
Usually not. In most of these jobs your first year is near the low end of the range while you build speed and credentials, and pay rises over the next few years. Treat the median as a realistic mid-career number, not a day-one salary.
How can I find pay for my city?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes pay for states and metro areas, and schools near you track what local employers pay. Ask any school you talk to for the local range for its graduates, and ask where those numbers come from.
Do these numbers include overtime and self-employed workers?
The OEWS survey covers wage and salary workers, so self-employed business owners are not included, and the base figures don't add overtime. That means a busy tech on an on-call rotation can earn well above the median, and some self-employed people earn well below it.