Skilled trades are the backbone of the U.S. economy. However, there’s a shortage of tradesmen to fill essential roles in trade industries. Some reasons for this shortage include an aging workforce that’s retiring faster than people are entering the trades, a long-standing bias that favors college education, and a societal stigma that sees the trades as less prestigious compared to white-collar professions.

Millions of employees across industries have joined a mass exodus from the workplace, known as the Great Resignation, instigated by the pandemic. This tight labor market has returned the upper hand to American workers. Phrases such as “quiet quitting” and “act your wage” have become popularized as employees find community with others who don’t feel appropriately valued or appreciated by their employers.

In this blog, we list eight trades and their salaries that exceed $60,000 per year based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are all high-earning trades that you can enter with just a high school diploma or equivalent. 

Are you wondering what skilled trades are in demand? Given the labor shortage, the trades, in general, need more workers. However, in this blog, we define what skilled trade jobs are and then discuss what skilled trades are in high demand based on the job outlook over the next decade.