I have talked about trade jobs and going to college in the past, but there continues to be something big shifting in the working world. According to a new survey from Resume Templates, 6 out of 10 Gen Zers plan to go after skilled trade work this year. It’s true! Trades like construction, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and manufacturing. A whole generation would rather reach for a tool belt instead of a college brochure!
And honestly? From a time and money standpoint, I kinda get it.
For decades, we all got handed the same bullshit setlist. Go finish high school and then go to a four-year college. Borrow whatever it takes with student loans, then land the “good job.” Anything else was treated like the B-side nobody wanted to hear lol! But that old song is getting old. Tuition keeps climbing, student loans follow people into their 40s and even 50s! And now, AI is making some of those office jobs look more than a little shaky.
So let’s break it down like a Knocked Loose track at a emo metal core show! So, what’s driving this shift and which trade jobs actually pay the most? Also, how can you use a trade career to build real wealth, not just earn a paycheck?
Why Gen Z Is Turning to the Skilled Trades
The survey asked 1,250 peeps born between 1997 and 2012 about their career plans. Some of their top reasons were wicked-practical: job security, a good skill fit, and earning potential. Not “I’ve always dreamed of fixing pipes.” lol! It was stability and pay.
Here’s the part that is kinda crazy. Nearly half of Gen Zers who already have a bachelor’s degree said they were likely to pursue a trade too! People with the diploma on the wall are also eyeing the jobsite.
A few big reasons keep coming up.
College doesn’t feel like a sure bet anymore
In a February 2026 Issues & Insights (I&I) and the TechnoMetrica Institute of Policy and Politics poll, 59% of American adults said a four-year degree just isn’t worth the cost. Only 24% said it still pays off. Another NBC News poll of registered voters found that 63% felt pretty much the same way. It’s cray cray to think that not that long ago, a lot of people thought the exact opposite.
AI anxiety is real
Younger workers are also watching AI tools creep into those entry-level office work jobs. But, ya know what? You can’t send a chatbot to fix a furnace in January! In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says the growth of AI and data centers is expected to push electricity demand wicked-high, which means tons more work for electricians upgrading the grid. Kind of ironic, right? The robots need electricians lol!
Employers need people
There are also lots of experienced tradespeople retiring. The BLS (it’s hard to not think of Black Label Society every time I type that) projects about 72,700 openings for electricians and about 42,000 openings for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters every year over the next decade! Woah! Mind-blowing!
Now, keep in mind. If we do a quick reality check. This survey came from a resume company, the Harris Poll from the year before found that fewer than 40% of Gen Z saw the trades as a top career option. So treat that “60%” number as a strong signal of interest, but not a promise that six out of ten young people will be wearing hard hats and wearing tool belts next spring. Still, the direction is loud and clear.
Which Skilled Trades Pay the Most in 2026?
Here’s where it gets fun. Let’s take a look at the national median wages from the BLS May 2025 wage data, the newest numbers available. Remember, “Median” means half of workers earn more and half earn less. For comparison, the median for all U.S. jobs was $50,980.
- Electricians: $63,190
- Occupational therapy assistants: $72,300
- Elevator and escalator installers: $109,910
- Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers: $58,640
- Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters: $63,800
- First-line supervisors of construction trades: about $79,920
- Carpenters: $60,580
- Electrical power-line installers and repairers: $95,320
- HVAC mechanics and installers: $61,010
- Physical therapist assistants: about $68,380
- Construction laborers: $47,120
Also, keep in mind these are national numbers. Your pay can be a lot higher or lower depending on where you live, your experience, whether you’re union or not, and your specific specialty.
The classic trades: electricians, plumbers, HVAC, and carpenters
These are the heavy hitters. Electricians and plumbers both have median pay north of $63,000, and the top 10% in both trades earn more than $108,000 a year! That’s not a typo. Real six figures, no bachelor’s degree required!
The path into these types of roles is usually an apprenticeship that can last four or five years. But, keep in mind, you’ll be getting paid while you learn. BLS says apprentices typically get around 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year, including classroom time. Your pay starts lower but will begin to climb as your skills grow.
The hidden tracks nobody talks about
Every great album has those deep cuts the casual fans miss. Well, in the trades, those are roles like elevator installers and power-line workers. Elevator and escalator installers have a median wage near $110,000, and line workers sit around $95,000! Both typically can start with a high school diploma. There are some tradeoffs, though. These jobs can involve heights, tight spaces, storms, and some serious safety risks. The pay can reflect that.
Healthcare without the med school debt
Not every high-paying hands-on career involves a hard hat or tool belt. Jobs like Occupational therapy assistants earn a median income of $72,300 and typically only need a two-year associate’s degree plus a state license. BLS expects that job to grow about 21% over the next ten years! This is driven by an aging population. Physical therapist assistants are following a similar path and pay in a similar range.
Only two years of community college instead of four years at a university? That can mean a much smaller loan balance, or none at all.
Leading the crew
Construction supervisors are the peeps who run the crews and keep projects on track. They can earn a median of about $80,000. You usually don’t start here though. Most get there after four or five years of working in the trade. Think of it as the long game. Just like learning that crushing riff, you gotta put in the reps, learn the craft, then step up.!
Life on the road
Heavy truck drivers earn a median of $58,640. You do usually need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) from a driving school. Pay is often by the mile, plus bonuses. Just know that long-haul driving can keep you away from home for days or weeks at a time. Think of this as lifestyle choice, not just a job choice.
The Real Money Move: Earn While You Learn
Here’s why this matters so much from a Heavy Metal Money point of view. It’s not just the salary. It’s the timing. I always look at our finite resource, “TIME!”
Picture two young adults. One spends four years in a paid apprenticeship. The other spends four years in school, maybe borrowing money along the way. By age 23, the apprentice has four years of paychecks, zero student loans, and a total head start on investing.
So, let’s now run some quick, hypothetical math. Say someone invests $300 a month starting at age 19 and earns an average 7% return. By 65, that grows to roughly $1.2 million! Start the same $300 a month at age 23 instead, and you end up with about $913,000. Those four early years add only $14,400 in contributions, but they add around $300,000 to the final number. That’s the magic of compound growth, and time is its secret weapon!
We know returns aren’t guaranteed, and markets bounce around. But the lesson holds true. Starting early is a cheat code.
Hold Up: Is College Dead? Not So Fast.
I’m not here to totally trash college. That would be lazy and wrong. I absolutely understand there are those specialized degrees and the value in college. The BLS data from 2024 shows workers with a bachelor’s degree earned median weekly pay of $1,543, compared to $930 for folks with only a high school diploma. For some of those careers, like nursing, engineering, or teaching, a degree is the ticket in.
The trades can also come with real costs that don’t show up on a pay stub. A lot of the work is physical and is hard on the body. Injuries can happen. Some trades mean nights and weekends as well as on-call emergencies. Some also require working outside in brutal weather. If you’re in Minnesota like me, you know “brutal weather” is not a figure of speech. I do remember one time seeing a power line worker in a bucket way up high working on a pole one day on a cold, windy, rainy November day….and thought, “Wow, could I put up with that?”
The point isn’t that “trades good, college bad.” The point is to choose on purpose. Run the numbers. Know what you’re signing up for and don’t just follow the setlist because everyone else is.
How to Get Started in a Skilled Trade
If you or someone you know is thinking about a trade, here’s a simple game plan:
- Check local pay first. Use the free CareerOneStop salary tool to see what your trade pays in your area. National medians only tell part of the story.
- Try it before you commit. Talk to people in the trade. Ask about shadowing or a pre-apprenticeship program. Find out what a normal Tuesday actually looks like.
- Find a paid apprenticeship. Apprenticeship.gov lets you search real openings. Unions, trade associations, and local contractors all sponsor programs.
- Don’t finance your starter kit. If you’ve read my story about what “low monthly payments” really cost you, you know where I’m going. That shiny tool set or brand-new truck on easy monthly payments can quietly eat your head start. Buy what you need, pay cash when you can, and upgrade as you earn.
- Automate your savings from paycheck one. Set up an automatic transfer to savings or investments before you get used to spending the money. Future you will throw the horns.
Final Thoughts
Gen Z isn’t lazy, and they aren’t anti-education. They’re actually doing math. They see sky-high tuition, the unstable office job market, and a huge demand for skilled hands. And they’re choosing a path that lets them earn early, avoid debt, and build real skills.
That’s not a step down. That’s a power move!
Whether you pick up a wrench, a stethoscope, or a diploma, the goal is the same. Own your decisions. Start early. And build a life where your money works as hard as you do. Curious what’s driving your own money choices? Take the Heavy Metal Money money script assessment and find out.
Horns up 🤘 my friends!