Skilled trades

Skilled trades

Looking for an interesting, in-demand career that doesn’t require a college degree?

Skilled trades are careers that involve specialized, hands-on work and often require technical training instead of a four-year college degree.

Why are skilled trades so popular?

There are lots of reason why skilled trades are great career options:

  • Demand for workers is high. Skilled trades jobs exist in nearly every industry, and many experts believe demand will remain high even as AI and other advances change the job market in coming years.
  • You don’t need a college degree for many well-paying jobs. Often you can learn on the job, enroll in an apprenticeship, or begin with a certificate or other short-term training credential.
  • Pay and career advancement opportunities are often excellent. In most cases, the more specialized skills you develop, the better your opportunities for advancement and increased income.
  • Self-employment is an option in many skilled trades fields.
  • Opportunities for women are strong in many of the traditionally male-dominated occupations (and for men in more female-dominated fields).

Ready to start exploring?

Scan this list of skilled trades careers to get started. For each career, you’ll find:

  • An overview and brief list of key skills
  • Common education or training requirements
  • Average pay ranges
  • A link to a career profile where you can learn about what you might do on the job, local salary and job demand information, and typical training and other options for qualifying
  • From the profile, you can link out to job postings and training programs in your area. You can apply to job openings right away or contact the training providers near you for more information.

Relates to skilled work in farming, forestry, energy, and environmental conservation.

Agricultural Equipment Operators
Drive and control equipment to support agricultural activities. See full career profile for Agricultural Equipment Operators.

  • Key skills: Coordination, precision, using equipment or systems, monitoring gauges
  • Requires: No formal educational credential or work experience require
  • National pay range: $33,500 - $58,650

Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians Diagnose and repair farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment, and irrigation systems. See full career profile for Farm Equipment Mechanics.

  • Key skills: Mechanical, electronics, troubleshooting, dexterity, operating systems
  • Requires: High school diploma and on the job training; some enter through technical school
  • National pay range: $37,740 - $78,740

Forest and Conservation Technicians Forest and conservation workers perform physical labor to improve the quality of natural areas such as forests, rangelands, and wetlands. See full career profile for Forest and Conservation Technicians.

  • Key skills: Stamina, decision-making, communication, detail orientation
  • Requires: High school diploma and on the job training
  • National pay range: $33,000 - $54,190

Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators Mix or apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation, or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or crops. Usually requires specific training and state or federal certification. See full career profile for Pesticide Handlers.

  • Key skills: Biology, processing materials, precision, observation, detail orientation
  • Requires: High school diploma and on the job training; some enter through technical school
  • National pay range: $35,570 - $61,420

Wind Turbine Service Technicians Diagnose and repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions. See full career profile for Wind Turbine Service Technicians.

  • Key skills: Equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, operations monitoring, dexterity, electronics, safety, ability to work at heights
  • Requires: Certificate and on the job training
  • National pay range: $49,230 - $92,460