If you’re searching anything about highest paying trades jobs on career jobs platforms, you’re going to be get hit with the same jobs every single time, jobs like plumbers, electrician, HVAC tech, and so on.
But here’s the thing, while everyone’s fighting over those obvious trades, there’s a whole category of specialized trades jobs that nobody even knows about and nobody’s talking about that make just as much money, sometimes even more.
Today, we are going to be breaking down five trades that pay at least $70,000 a year that almost nobody is talking about. The best part is that most of these have way less competition than these standard trades that everyone is fighting over.
So if you’re stuck trying to figure out a career path that doesn’t require $300,000 in student loan debt, then pay attention because this might be the career guide that changes your whole life. Some of the highest paying, most secure jobs out there don’t require a fancy degree at all.
But within the trades, there are these specialized niches that pay incredibly well, but get almost zero attention. But all that changes today because we are going to be revealing them.
Highest Paying Trades Jobs
Diesel Engine Specialists
Number five on the list is Diesel Engine Specialists, and they make around $71,000 a year. And this is according to Glassdoor.
Now, by the way, the money that is typically reported on the internet usually under reports trade jobs by quite a bit. And there’s many different reasons for this, but one of the main ones is because a lot of the times in trade careers, you actually get paid in cash. And so it doesn’t necessarily get reported to the government in the same way.
Diesel Engine Specialists isn’t your regular car mechanic. We’re talking about specialists who work on massive industrial diesel engines, the kind that power construction equipment, generators, ships, and heavy machinery.
Here’s why this job is so damn lucrative; When a diesel engine goes down on a construction site or in an industrial setting, the company is losing thousands of dollars per hour.
They need that equipment running immediately, and they’ll pay top dollar to make it happen. This job fetches you good money, always makes you stay in shape, guaranteed to always have a job if you want it, but it’s hard work and it will punish your body.
The tools aren’t cheap, it takes brains, and you have to be almost as intelligent as the engineers designing the engines. This job also helps if you’re a little bit masochistic and you enjoy smoking cigarettes and bullshitting with the guys.
How to Become Diesel Engine Specialist
The path to get into this is usually through;
- Diesel technology training at a technical school, which is usually 12 to 24 months.
- Specialized certifications and specific engine types.
- On-the-job experience
This is going to change depending on the location you’re in, so different regions or states are going be different, and then also whether it’s union or non-union.
So this job is something you’ll have to check out based on your location. Typically, a quick search on ChatGPT or Grok is either going to tell you the answer right away for your location, or it’ll at least point you in the direction of a resource that can tell you the answer.
The crazy thing is, once you built up expertise on certain types of engines, companies will fly you around to different job sites just to work on their equipment.
Industrial Automation Technician
Industrial automation technicians make around $74,000 a year. These are the people who install, program, and maintain the robots and automated systems that run modern factories.
Industrial Automation Technician field is absolutely exploding right now. And it’s starting to look like there’s going to be a whole lot more factories in the United States if things keep going the way they’re going.
Then the robot uprising has begun. So every single factory is trying to automate more of their production, and they need skilled people who understand both the mechanical and the electrical side of those systems. And the beauty of this is that it combines both hands-on work with technical skills.
So you’re not sitting at a desk all day coding, but you’re also not breaking your back doing the manual labor all day. It’s kind of that perfect sweet spot.
How to Become Industrial Automation Technician
- Technical training in industrial automation, which is 12 to 24 months.
- PLC programming certifications. And PLC stands for programmable logic controllers.
- Robotics training.
- Field experience.
Marine Systems Technician
Marine systems pays on average about $77,000 a year. And these are the people who work on the complex systems in ships and large boats, navigation systems, propulsion, electrical systems, HVAC, and all the specialized equipment that keeps vessels operating.
Now, why is this job so well-paid but barely discussed? Because it’s almost invisible to most people. Unless you live in a coastal area with a lot of maritime activity, you probably never even think about this career. But here’s the reality.
Shipping is the backbone of global commerce. And every single vessel needs maintenance and repair, and there’s a massive shortage of qualified technicians.
How to Become Marine Systems Technician
Now, depending on where you live, here are some options for getting into this;
- Technical school with a focus on marine systems, which is typically 12 to 24 months.
- Specialization in specific systems, electrical, mechanical, navigation, HVAC, et cetera.
- Certifications relevant to your specialty.
- Apprenticeship or entry-level position.
The biggest money in this field comes from specialized work on luxury yachts or commercial vessels. Those guys are making over $100,000 a year easily.
Why? Because when a $20 million yacht has a problem with its systems, the owner isn’t exactly price shopping for the cheapest technician. They probably don’t want their ship to sink in the middle of the ocean.
The downsides of this job is you might have to travel where the boats are, and sometimes you’re working in tight spaces. But it’s pretty good compared to digging trenches or crawling through sewer systems. And it’s honestly not that physically demanding.
Now, one way you could get into this is by starting off as an HVAC technician, which again is one of the sample courses.
An Electrical Lineman
This job pay is about $78,000 a year. A regular linemen aren’t exactly a secret, but what most people don’t realize is just how specialized and lucrative this field gets when you focus on high-voltage transmission lines.
High-voltage linemen work on massive power lines that transmit electricity across long distances. We’re talking about lines carrying hundreds of thousands of volts, not the distribution lines that run to your house. And the reason these specialists make so much money is pretty simple.
It’s dangerous work that requires serious technical skills and there’s a massive shortage of qualified people.
How To Become An Electrical Lineman
- Apprenticeship programs that typically take between three and four years. So this one’s a bit longer than normal.
- Special certifications for high-voltage work
- Additional training for specialized tasks like helicopter line work. So this one takes a bit longer to get into. For obvious reasons, it’s a lot more dangerous.
But here’s where it gets really interesting.
During emergency situations, like after major storms or natural disasters, these high-voltage specialists can make insane amounts of money. And they do this because of overtime and hazard pay. We are talking 150 to 200K per year during busy years.
In many cases, the bulk of the money comes during just a few months out of the year. Everyone gets their hazard pay. Now, the downside is that probably one of the most physically demanding jobs on the list.
You’re working at heights, you’re dealing with serious safety hazards, and you’re often working in terrible weather conditions. Plus, you’re likely gonna have to travel and you’re gonna have to go to places that were affected by hurricanes, for instance.
For many people, the compensation is more than makes up for it. And once you have enough experience, you can move into management positions that are much less physically demanding, but still pay extremely well.
Welding Inspector
Welding inspectors make around $87,000 a year and this is not your standard welder.
This is a specialized position where you’re responsible for verifying the quality and integrity of welds, particularly on critical infrastructure like pipelines, pressure vessels, bridges, and high-rise buildings.
Now, the reason this job pays so damn well is because the consequences of a bad weld can be catastrophic. We’re talking about potential loss of life, environmental disasters, and millions in damage if something fails.
How To Become Welding Inspector
Here is some options for becoming a welding inspector;
- Experience as a welder first, typically three to five years.
- AWS certified welding inspection certifications.
- Specialized certifications for specific industries like pipeline, aerospace, or structural.
- Continuing education to maintain certification.
Now, the beauty of this career is that it’s much less physically demanding than actually being a welder. You’re inspecting welds, not making them all day long.
So you’re basically the quality control person, not the one grinding and burning through materials.
Battery Storage Technician
Battery storage technician is another one that almost made the list, but it didn’t quite make it. Battery storage technicians make about 75 to $85,000 a year. And they basically install, maintain, and repair battery systems, which are extremely important.
Conclusion
Starting off as a technician or just getting a job is just the beginning. It’s quite easy just to start your own business. And if you start your own business, you’re almost certainly going to make it to six figures a year. So the entrepreneur path is where the real money is.
