Earning big money these days doesn’t necessarily involve years at uni or climbing up a corporate ladder. Working with your hands can earn you quite a lucrative living. Skilled tradespeople are in high demand, and with many opportunities to earn while you learn, your income can grow quickly.
Are you charging enough? Work out your ideal hourly rate with our free Charge-Out Rate Calculator!
If you’ve ever wondered which tradespeople are bringing in the most cash, we’ve pulled together a list of the highest-paying trade jobs from around the world. Of course, rates and salaries are dependent on a variety of factors: regional demand, employee or self-employed, experience, specialisations and many other elements can influence the average hourly rate you earn as a tradesperson.
So, where does your trade rank?
Jump ahead:
1. Average hourly rate for electricians
The work of an electrician is varied, physical and requires plenty of on-the-job problem-solving. You’ll need a bunch of technical knowledge to comply with local regulations and manage whatever the job throws at you. For this reason, the road to becoming a fully-fledged sparkie can be relatively long (around four years). Once you’re up and running as a contractor or electrical business owner, though, it’s a rewarding job – and one of the most well-paid of all the trades.
If you're self-employed, these numbers aren't your target, they're your floor. You've got insurance, tools, a vehicle, tax, and unpaid admin to cover on top. Our free Charge-Out Rate Calculator works out what you actually need to charge.
Running your own business? Tradify’s latest reports also benchmark electrical business revenue, job values and quote-win rates in Australia and the UK.
Building is a satisfying profession – not only can you step back and admire your work when it’s done, but it’s also a well-paying job. It can take from two to four years to become a qualified builder. While it can be a physically challenging role, once you’ve got a few years under your belt you’ll have what you need to start your own carpentry business. At that point, you’ll probably be spending more time overseeing projects and less time on the tools.
If you love the outdoors and the satisfaction of neatly trimmed hedges, then you may have what it takes to be a landscaper. The job can range from the planning and design of outdoor spaces to maintenance and remodelling – although you’ll need to be prepared to spend your days in all weather conditions. After a few years on the tools, you could even consider starting your own landscaping business.
Responsible for repairing and installing roofs, this is an all-weather, 99% outdoor job and not for the faint-hearted. You’ll need to be comfortable with heights and prepared to work rain, hail, or shine (if safety permits). Typically, you’ll need around two years of on-the-job training, which includes comprehensive safety knowledge.
Concrete is everywhere – and concreters are in demand! The job involves reading and interpreting plans, preparing boxing and reinforcing, pouring and polishing concrete, and maybe even driving a concrete mixer. While there are no formal qualifications involved, concreters need very specific knowledge and skills to do the job.
The hourly rates above show what tradespeople earn in different roles and countries. What you do next depends on whether you’re employed or running a business.
Extra qualifications can help you take on more specialised jobs or move into supervisory roles. Check what employers in your area are paying for those skills before committing to a course. Overtime may also increase your annual income where it’s available, but compare the extra pay with the hours you’ll work.
Your charge-out rate has to cover tools, vehicles, insurance, admin and time you can’t bill to a customer. Start with those costs, your billable hours and the income you want to make. Our Charge-Out Rate Calculator can help you work through the numbers.
Want to see what trade businesses invoice? Explore Australia’s Top-Earning Trades Report and the UK Top-Earning Trades Report. Both break down business revenue by trade and team size. These figures are revenue before costs, not an owner’s take-home pay.
Taking on larger jobs or hiring staff may increase what you invoice, but it also adds costs. Before making your first hire, check whether the work available can support the wages and overhead in our guide to hiring your first employee.
If you’re considering the move from employee to owner, start with our guide to starting a trade business.
Ultimately, becoming a tradesperson can be a great career choice for many individuals. Right now, trades are in high demand and this is expected to continue for years to come.
The ‘earn while you learn’ apprenticeship option can spare you from an out-of-control student loan, and once you’ve soaked up all the knowledge and experience from a mentor you’ll have the tools you need to get paid what your trade is worth. A highly qualified and experienced tradesperson can start their own business and choose their own rates. People will pay it too — a highly-skilled tradesperson is pretty much priceless.
Looking for tools to run your trade business better and more efficiently? Download Tradify for a free 14-day trial or view the app in action during one of our live walkthrough webinars.
Work out your hourly rate with our free Charge-Out Rate Calculator!