About TradeEarnings

Most salary sites are useless for tradespeople. We got tired of it, so we built something better.

If you've ever searched for how much electricians or plumbers actually make, you've probably run into the same problem we did: generic articles stuffed with ads, paywalled reports, and "salary ranges" so wide they're useless. We wanted something better.

What We Do

TradeEarnings covers 30+ skilled trades -- from electricians and plumbers to elevator installers and wind turbine techs. Every number on this site comes from real data -- not guesses, not "estimates," not outdated surveys from 2015.

We break it down the way it actually matters: by state, by city, by experience level, and by union vs. non-union status. Because the difference between what a first-year apprentice makes in Mississippi and what a union journeyman earns in Chicago is massive, and you should know that before making career decisions.

Our Data

Our salary figures are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. We supplement this with union pay scale data, industry reports, and publicly available wage surveys. Data is reviewed and updated annually to keep things current.

We're transparent about where the numbers come from. When we say the median electrician salary in Illinois is a specific figure, we can tell you exactly how we got there. No black boxes, no proprietary algorithms -- just real data presented honestly.

No Paywall

Everything on TradeEarnings is free. We believe salary information should be accessible to everyone -- especially for people making career decisions that will affect the rest of their lives. We keep the lights on through advertising and affiliate partnerships with accredited trade schools.

Our Mission

The skilled trades are the backbone of this country, and the people who do this work deserve better information. Our mission is simple: help workers, apprentices, and career changers make informed decisions about their careers in the trades.

Maybe you're in high school weighing trade school against college. Maybe you're a first-year apprentice wondering what your paycheck looks like in five years. Maybe you're a journeyman thinking about moving to a better-paying state. Whatever your situation, we want to give you the real numbers -- straight and without the BS.