Several skilled trades combine solid national wages with apprenticeship routes that pay you while you train. But high pay is not guaranteed at entry, and “earn while you learn” does not mean every program is free: wages, fees, tools, licensing, and job prospects depend on the trade, sponsor, and location.
Five trades to compare
The figures below are U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) national median annual wages for May 2025, with employment projections for 2025–35. A median is the midpoint among employed workers—not a starting salary or a promise of what a new apprentice will earn.
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| Trade | May 2025 median annual wage | Projected employment growth, 2025–35 | Typical entry and training notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator and escalator installers and repairers | $109,910 | 6% | Nearly all learn through apprenticeship; most states require licensure. Work can involve heights, confined spaces, on-call repairs, and overtime. |
| Electrical power-line installers and repairers | $95,320 | 10% | Technical instruction and on-the-job training are typical, and apprenticeships are common. Work involves high-voltage and height hazards. |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | $63,800 | 7% | Most learn through a four- or five-year apprenticeship; most states require plumbers to be licensed. Emergency calls, nights, or weekends may be part of the work. |
| Electricians | $63,190 | 9% | Most learn through apprenticeship, and most states require licensing. Schedules can include evenings, weekends, and overtime. |
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (HVAC) | $61,010 | 11% | Typically require a postsecondary nondegree award plus lengthy on-the-job training. Licensing or certification may be required; seasonal peaks can bring irregular schedules or overtime. |
These national medians conceal differences by state, metro area, industry, experience, union status, hours worked, and self-employment. For a local comparison, use the state and area wage links in each BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile. The profiles’ outlook figures are projections, not guarantees of local openings.
How an apprenticeship can reduce the need to borrow
A registered apprenticeship combines paid on-the-job training and mentorship with classroom instruction. Apprentices generally receive progressive wage increases as they advance, and completion earns a Department of Labor credential. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) describes these programs as a way to earn while learning that can help participants avoid student loans; it does not say every apprenticeship is free or that every participant finishes debt-free.
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Training costs still need a close look. Ask whether classroom instruction carries tuition or fees, who pays for books and tools, whether you need equipment before your first paycheck, and whether the sponsor or employer offers financial support. A trade-school program is a different route: compare its full price and aid with the cost and wage terms of an apprenticeship rather than assuming either path is automatically debt-free.
Scale figures need context, too. GAO reported about 940,000 registered-apprenticeship participants across industries in fiscal year 2024. It also reported Department of Labor figures showing about $80,000 in average annual wages during the first year after exit for completers who exited between April 2022 and March 2023. That is a cross-program average for those completers, not a starting-pay estimate for any one trade.
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What training and work look like by trade
Electricians
Most electricians learn through an apprenticeship. Apprentice pay is below the pay of fully trained workers and increases with progression; the national median in the table is not the wage to expect at the outset. Most states require electricians to be licensed. Work schedules can include evenings, weekends, and overtime.
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Most enter through a four- or five-year apprenticeship, with wages during training below those of fully trained workers. Most states require plumbers to be licensed. Depending on the job, nights, weekends, or emergency calls may be required.
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Elevator and escalator installers
Nearly all learn through apprenticeship. Apprentices commonly start at about half of fully trained pay and receive increases as they progress. Most states require licensure. The work may involve heights, confined spaces, on-call repairs, and overtime.
HVAC mechanics and installers
HVAC workers typically need a postsecondary nondegree award and substantial on-the-job training. Licensing or certification requirements vary, and busy seasons may bring irregular schedules or overtime. Ask a program how its classroom training connects to employer placement and which credentials local employers require.
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Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Technical instruction and on-the-job training are typical, with apprenticeships common. This work carries high-voltage and height hazards, so ask about safety training, protective equipment, work schedules, and travel expectations before choosing a program.
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How to compare offers before you commit
- Check local pay. Use the BLS state and area data linked from the relevant occupational profile. Compare the local figures with the national median, and distinguish experienced-worker wages from any apprentice wage a sponsor quotes.
- Get the training terms in writing. Ask the apprenticeship sponsor or school for the starting wage, when raises occur, classroom schedule, program duration, tuition, fees, books, and any required tools or equipment.
- Calculate the actual cost and income. Add fees, tools, travel, and any unpaid classroom time. Ask whether financial aid, employer support, or other assistance applies, and whether you must repay it if you leave.
- Verify licensing and credentials. Check the requirements with your state licensing office and state apprenticeship agency. Confirm which credential the program awards and whether it meets the requirements where you intend to work.
- Look beyond the wage. Ask about typical hours, overtime, on-call work, seasonal swings, travel, physical demands, and safety risks. A schedule or hazard profile that does not fit your circumstances can outweigh a high national median.
- Check local openings and sponsors. Search the Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Job Finder and review apprenticeship occupations. Confirm with the sponsor that applications are open and that the program serves your area.
Where to start
The Department of Labor lists electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers and pipefitters, power lineworkers, welders, carpenters, and other occupations among construction apprenticeship options. It reported 480,399 construction apprentices served in 2025, 28% more than five years earlier. Those national figures show the scale of construction apprenticeships, not the number of openings in your city or a guarantee that a particular trade is hiring locally.
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For a practical shortlist, compare the local wage data, apprenticeship wage progression, total training costs, licensing requirements, and daily working conditions for two or three trades. Use the Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship.gov resources to look for programs, then confirm details directly with the sponsor and relevant state agencies.
Quick Recap
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