How to become a tradesperson
The road into each trade, from the first apprenticeship hour to a license and a shop of your own. Training facts come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Labor, pay from the BLS wage survey, and each state's license steps from its own board.
Pick your trade
The trades side by side
National median pay for May 2025, highest first, with how most people get in.
| Trade | Median hourly | Median yearly | How most start |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Contractor | $55.28 | $114,990 | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Plumber | $30.67 | $63,800 | Apprenticeship |
| Electrician | $30.38 | $63,190 | Apprenticeship |
| HVAC Technician | $29.33 | $61,010 | Long-term on-the-job training |
| Roofer | $26.65 | $55,440 | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Locksmith | $24.68 | $51,320 | A few days to one year on the job |
| Handyman | $23.84 | $49,590 | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Painter | $23.75 | $49,400 | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Pest Control Technician | $21.75 | $45,250 | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Landscaper | $18.82 | $39,150 | 1 month or less on the job |
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. General contractor and handyman pay use the closest BLS groups, construction managers and general maintenance and repair workers. How most start: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*NET.
How these pages are made
Every number is read from its source's own page or data file, and anything a source did not confirm is left out. A state page goes up only when we have read that state's license rules from the official board and BLS published a wage for the trade there. Until then the state shows as not yet checked.
When you are ready to run your own shop
The free Koira Office plan gives you a website on a Koira address, estimates customers sign with a deposit, invoices with card payments and your day's jobs in one place, with no per-person fee. See the plans or read how to start a trade business.