Top 15 Highest Paying Trade Jobs In 2024

Most people think, that higher education is the only way to lead a luxurious life. In a quest to earn hefty sums of money from their professional life, they tend to undertake courses at expensive colleges and end up with huge education loans. They are required to work and pay debt along with interest in the form of Equated Monthly Installments (EMI) whenever they start earning. The mental pressure of repaying EMIs for long periods of time leads to theft and disruption of mental peace. One might ask oneself the question, is it luxurious?

Highest Paying Trade Jobs

What Are Trade Jobs?

Background

First of all trade jobs are no menial jobs. These are some jobs, that do not require a higher level of education, not even a bachelor’s degree in some cases. But, if you are proficient in your primary skill, you would have the ability to earn huge sums of money, without taking any loans or any extra financial burden. Such is the demand of trade workers, that their hands are always full from work and rarely remain unemployed.

Meaning

Trade jobs are skills, mastery, or adroitness in a particular field that can be obtained by joining an industrial training institute or a vocational college. These institutes impart valuable knowledge and would train you to learn a particular set of skills, like, Training to extract honey from beehives.

Duration

These courses are of short-term duration and do not require a long list of pre-requisites or any superior academic record. All that is required to undergo successful training is a learning attitude, a high level of focus, and concentration. And you are ready to learn and post that start earning in the real world.

Compensation

If you don’t have a coveted MBA degree or you are not an engineer from any prominent educational institution, that just does not mean you are bound to earn less. An expertise or mastered trader has the ability to generate ample money. The pay is both fixed as well as variable. However, some organizations offer a mix of variable and fixed pay too, like $500 per month plus $150 per hour

Top 15 Trade Jobs – Highest Paying

1) Solar Panel Installer

The word solar energy has spread like a wildfire all over the world with some even considering it as the energy provider of the future world. Big organizations and visionaries are gearing up to convert solar energy into electricity by installing giant solar farms. For this purpose, photovoltaic panels are installed at areas experiencing constant, high levels of solar heat, such as places near the equator. These panels are installed by expert craftsmen who can either be paid a fixed salary or variably on the basis of per panel installed.

Educational Qualification

In order to become a solar panel or photovoltaic installer, you are expected to have at least:

  • A high school degree and a
  • A training or vocational course to install photovoltaic panels/cells

2) Wind Turbine Repairsmen

Wind energy is considered one of the cheapest forms of energy wherein simply the power of wind is used to generate electricity. The wind rotates a turbine or rotator installed in a wind machine that transforms wind energy into mechanical energy. This rotator is connected to the generator which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. The role of repairmen or technicians is to ensure that the turbine works properly and has adequate greasing as well as connections.

Educational Qualification

In order to become a wind turbine repairmen, you are expected to have at least:

  • A high school degree and a
  • Training or vocational course that imparts complete knowledge of the:
    • Several parts of a wind machine
    • Common issues arising and its repair procedures
    • Safety protocols while working

3) Millwright

Rapid industrialization and automation of the procedures have led to the mass installation of industrial machines and equipment in factories and workplaces. These machines need to be maintained regularly in order to fetch optimum results. For this purpose a millwright is hired, whose primary duties are to:

  • Assemble
  • Maintain and
  • Repair a wide variety of the industrial machines

Educational Qualification

In order to become a millwright, you must be a machine lover at first place. Further you must at least have:

  • A high school degree and a
  • Training or vocational course that enables you to repair industrial machines and equipment

4) Estate Inspector

Buying houses not only depends on the purchase price of it, but rather the prevailing conditions of the house also play a vital role. The role of an estate inspector is to apply his expert knowledge and evaluate if the house has:

  • Proper heating facilities in place
  • Proper drainage system
  • Proper gas lines
  • Termite free wood and
  • Strong foundations without the presence of any cracks or faults

Educational Qualification

In order to become an estate inspector, you are expected to have at least:

  • A high school degree and a
  • A diploma in civil engineering (3 years) and a
  • Training or vocational course in plumbing

5) Plumber

A leaking house is a mess. Improper drainage, rusty pipes, and leaking roofs are some of the most common problems faced by people living in old or poorly constructed houses. They urgently need the services of a plumber to fix the issues and maintain the decorum of the living space. They get a variable pay. in which they are paid on the basis of the task to be performed.

Educational Qualification

In order to become a licensed plumber, you must have at least:

  • A high school degree and an
  • Apprenticeship of minimum 3 years

6) Electrician

Rarely there is a house, corporate, or any other place that does not require the services of an electrician. Be it the installation of a heating system or the repair of a switchboard, an electrician is required almost around the year. The pay depends on the tasks to be performed and an electrician submits a bill for its services. It is a good trade job and a skilled electrician can earn a huge individual client base and earn hefty sums of money in a year.

Educational Qualification

In order to become a licensed electrician, you must have at least:

  • A high school degree and an
  • Apprenticeship of minimum 4 years

In some cases diploma is also necessary teaching you the basics of electrical components, current and charge

7) Construction Site Supervisor

If you want to assess the development of a country, then the best way is to look at its infrastructure. The construction of various dams, bridges, and skyscrapers is the priority of any government around the world. Supervisors or managers are employed at a construction site and responsible for:

  • Managing the labor working at the construction site by:
  • Marking their attendance on a daily basis
  • Ensuring that everyone is working as per the expectations and guidelines
  • Ensuring that safety gear is worn by the workers all the time, etc.
  • Managing the construction material by preventing it from possible theft, pilferage, or robbery.
  • Analyze and ensure that the construction of the building is going as per the plan designed by engineers and architects
  • Employ heavy-duty machines and other construction equipment from time to time

Educational Qualification

In order to become a licensed construction site supervisor or manager, you must have at least:

  • A high school degree with a science background and
  • A diploma in civil engineering (3 years)

This is a skill based job wherein practical job experience is worth the weight of gold. The higher your experience of managing a construction site, the higher is the possibility of working on big projects while fetching huge salaries and incentives.

8) Honey Extractor

Honey is one of the oldest forms of sugar, that not only provides energy to the body but also improves and enhances immunity levels. There were days when honey was consumed by German soldiers participating in World War II to improve their stamina and revitalize their muscles and nerves. Even now, there is a huge demand for honey worldwide. The primary duties of a honey extractor could be:

  • Maintain a cordial relationship with the honey bees (for the unknown, honey bees tend to recognize their keeper/extractor)
  • Extract honey from the beehives
  • Rear honey bees by providing an adequate temperature and environment
  • Maintain the quality of honey extracted by properly preserving and managing it

Educational Qualification

In order to become honey extractor, you are expected to have at least:

  • A high school degree and a
  • Training or vocational course in the field of rearing of honey bees

9) Licensed Nursing Assistant

The need for medical professionals and workers is increasing in leaps and bounds. If you have relevant medical skills and interests then opting for and becoming a licensed practical nurse or nursing assistant is not a bad idea whose primary duty is to take instructions from doctors and registered nurses. You would most probably be required to perform the following duties;

  • Maintain a cordial relationship with patients and provide them sympathy and succor in times of distress
  • Record vital signs of the patients
  • Change their bed sheets
  • Change sides of the patients
  • Assist them in taking bath and/or passing stool and urine, etc.

Educational Qualification

In order to become a licensed nursing assistant, you are expected to have at least:

  • A high school degree and a
  • Training or vocational course in general nursing and midwifery

10) Welder

We all know how important is the ole of a welder in our everyday life. Be it any iron almirah, window, or shoe rack, you need someone to weld and solder using lead-tin alloy. The demand is huge with almost every third household feeling the need to have a piece of iron equipment in their living space. The pay is variable and a welder is paid on the basis of per task performed or completed.

Educational Qualification

In order to become a licensed welder, you are expected to have at least:

  • A high school degree and a
  • Training or vocational course that teaches you to weld, following adequate safety protocols

11) Painter

Among several parts of a house, Walls are most vulnerable to dust, dirt, and liquid wastes. Even a misdirected ketchup sauce has the ability to ruin a recently painted wall. Thus, the demand for skilled painters is such, that they are always pre-booked by major repair and maintenance agencies. Further earning money by making someone’s house beautiful and pretty is a nice idea worth considering.

Educational Qualification

In order to become a licensed painter, you are expected to have at least:

  • A high school degree and a
  • Training or vocational course in wall painting

12) Carpenter

Wooden items not only look pretty and attractive but also they are robust and durable. It is common to have cupboards, kitchen almirahs and floorings made up of wooden sheets and boards. A carpenter specializes in wooden furniture and has the ability to transform a wooden block into something useful and functional. The pay is good and is task-based.

Educational Qualification

In order to become a licensed carpenter, you are expected to have at least:

  • A high school degree and a
  • Training or vocational course in carpentry.

13) Dental Assistant

We all experience issues in our teeth at some point in time. That may be a normal cavity hole or a calcium deficient enamel. All these issues require you to visit a dentist. A dental assistant takes instructions from dentist and performs:

  • Cleaning the plaque, germs, and dirt from the teeth of the patient
  • Polishing of the patient’s teeth
  • Perform dental scans and procedures
  • Performing clerical duties by maintaining files of the repetitive patients and updating their record regularly

Educational Qualification

In order to become a dental assistant, you are expected to have at least:

  • A high school degree and a
  • Training or vocational course in dental assistance

14) Drill Operator

There are various natural resources that must be mined and extracted from the earth. Oil and gas are such natural resources and the demand is fairly huge or we should say humongous. If the oil and gas industry suits your liking, then working as a drill operator is not a bad choice. Your primary duty would be to use various types of drills and extract the natural resources from the identified deep beds.

Educational Qualification

In order to become a drill operator, you are expected to have at least:

  • A high school degree and a
  • Training or vocational course that teaches and imparts practical knowledge as to various principles of operating drill.

15) Elevator Technician

In malls, high-rise buildings, and now even in homes, we find elevators installed in the corner of a space, waiting to lift the users to their destination. With time, machines have the capacity to go bad. A bad elevator immediately requires the services of a technician who repairs and maintains them. The pay is good and requires a good level of technical knowledge as this matter is associated with the lives of the people.

Educational Qualification

In order to become a elevator technician you are expected to have at least:

  • A high school degree and a
  • A training or vocational course to repair and maintain an elevator

Conclusion

If you are not planning to invest more into your studies rather wants to undertake a skill-based course and pursue your dream trade job, then don’t look here and there, no more, rather just join a good vocational college and learn the trade with all your heart. If you like our articles then don’t forget to share them with your family and friends. Also, do let us know through the comments section below, how much you like our articles.

References

  1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24942657
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022199611000316
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