Best-Paying Trade & Certificate Jobs
Jobs you can enter with a postsecondary certificate or license rather than a degree.
The 50 jobs below have a median salary of $61,010 — 20% above the $50,980 median for all U.S. workers. 70% of them are projected to grow faster than the 3.5% average through 2035, and together they are expected to have about 1,073,400 openings a year. The most common entry requirement on this list is: postsecondary nondegree award (50 jobs).
| # | Job | Median salary | Take-home* | Education | Growth 2025–35 | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial Pilot | $123,220 | $95,487 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.2% | 5,200 |
| 2 | Ship Engineer | $109,530 | $85,884 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +2.7% | 900 |
| 3 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | $103,020 | $81,305 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +9.7% | 1,800 |
| 4 | Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | $97,150 | $77,175 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +6.1% | 600 |
| 5 | First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 | $74,628 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.7% | 6,600 |
| 6 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $92,460 | $73,876 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +4.0% | 3,800 |
| 7 | Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | $84,890 | $68,550 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.4% | 500 |
| 8 | Avionics Technician | $82,280 | $66,714 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +9.4% | 1,700 |
| 9 | Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician | $79,870 | $65,019 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.4% | 11,400 |
| 10 | Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | $78,240 | $63,872 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -8.7% | 700 |
| 11 | Fire Inspector and Investigator | $75,920 | $62,240 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +4.2% | 1,600 |
| 12 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | $74,090 | $60,952 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +0.3% | 4,700 |
| 13 | Sound Engineering Technician | $73,130 | $60,277 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -3.1% | 1,000 |
| 14 | Commercial Diver | $72,990 | $60,178 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +4.8% | 400 |
| 15 | Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $72,420 | $59,777 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -0.1% | 1,800 |
| 16 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $68,120 | $56,752 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.9% | 2,700 |
| 17 | Lighting Technician | $68,060 | $56,710 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -4.8% | 600 |
| 18 | Surgical Assistant | $66,800 | $55,824 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +6.1% | 1,400 |
| 19 | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other | $65,790 | $55,042 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.1% | 2,200 |
| 20 | Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $54,126 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.0% | 7,100 |
| 21 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse | $64,400 | $53,925 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.0% | 51,800 |
| 22 | Wind Turbine Service Technician | $64,120 | $53,700 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +29.5% | 1,500 |
| 23 | Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 | $53,644 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -9.2% | 4,300 |
| 24 | Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | $63,890 | $53,516 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -3.3% | 11,300 |
| 25 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $61,010 | $51,202 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +10.9% | 40,600 |
| 26 | Paramedic | $60,600 | $50,872 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.7% | 4,300 |
| 27 | Firefighter | $59,280 | $49,811 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.7% | 26,800 |
| 28 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $58,640 | $49,297 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.8% | 214,500 |
| 29 | Massage Therapist | $58,450 | $49,145 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +15.3% | 20,400 |
| 30 | Audio and Video Technician | $58,100 | $48,863 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.9% | 6,600 |
| 31 | Audiovisual Equipment Installer and Repairer | $52,600 | $44,444 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +4.8% | 2,200 |
| 32 | Medical Records Specialist | $51,140 | $43,271 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.8% | 14,000 |
| 33 | Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 | $42,853 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.0% | 66,200 |
| 34 | Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,290 | $42,588 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.9% | 12,400 |
| 35 | Prepress Technician and Worker | $48,690 | $41,302 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -15.3% | 2,100 |
| 36 | Motorcycle Mechanic | $48,580 | $41,214 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +2.1% | 1,400 |
| 37 | Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $40,804 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.4% | 53,000 |
| 38 | Cooks, Private Household | $47,940 | $40,700 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.1% | 5,000 |
| 39 | Motorboat Operator | $47,520 | $40,362 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +4.9% | 300 |
| 40 | Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $38,892 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +12.9% | 109,700 |
| 41 | Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,570 | $38,795 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +21.4% | 11,800 |
| 42 | Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | $38,603 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +8.8% | 14,200 |
| 43 | Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $38,522 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +6.8% | 18,000 |
| 44 | Psychiatric Technician | $45,130 | $38,442 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +22.3% | 17,000 |
| 45 | Library Technician | $44,580 | $38,000 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -6.4% | 10,800 |
| 46 | Emergency Medical Technician | $44,470 | $37,912 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.8% | 13,800 |
| 47 | Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | $36,136 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +2.6% | 196,200 |
| 48 | Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | $34,649 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -4.4% | 6,200 |
| 49 | Barber | $38,210 | $32,882 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +3.3% | 6,900 |
| 50 | Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $30,937 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.7% | 73,400 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal tax and FICA, no state income tax. Pick your state in the calculator below to see your own number. Average growth for all jobs: 3.5%.
What would #1 take home in your state?
Your take-home pay
$95,487
per year · effective tax rate 22.5%
$7,957Monthly
$3,979Twice a month
$3,673Every 2 weeks
$45.91Hourly
- Federal income tax$18,307
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,640
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,787
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$95,487
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-paying trade & certificate jobs?
Commercial Pilots earn a median $123,220 a year (BLS, May 2025). Typical entry education: postsecondary nondegree award.
Where does this data come from?
Salaries are U.S. median wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Education, openings and growth come from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Take-home pay uses 2026 federal tax rules for a single filer in a state with no income tax.