6 Best First Trade Jobs To Earn $100,000 a Year

fstop123 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed
by Experts

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

If you want to earn $100,000 a year, you don’t need to attend an Ivy League school and work on Wall Street. In fact, there are quite a large number of blue-collar jobs that pay this lofty six-figure amount, and they don’t even require extensive schooling.

This isn’t to say they’re an easy path to riches. Most of these types of jobs require both hard work and a level of skill. But the more talented you are, the more you can potentially earn.

If you’re naturally inclined to learn a trade instead of going into more academic fields, here are some of the best jobs to earn $100,000 or more per year.

Not interested in working on-site? Check out jobs that pay over $100,000 and allow you to work remotely.

Construction Manager

• Median annual salary: $104,900

The Philadelphia Technician Training Institute and Accredited Schools Online both list construction management among trade jobs that pay well.

Construction managers aren’t the people who physically build structures. Rather, they perform a wide variety of administrative and supervisory tasks, from creating budgets and keeping projects on time to coordinating with the various professionals working on a job, such as engineers, architects and tradespeople.

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

• Median annual salary: $102,420

This technical job requires both a high school diploma and on-the-job training, but CNBC and Accredited Schools Online list it as a lucrative option anyway.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs are expected to grow at an above-average rate of 6% annually. Working on elevators and escalators sometimes requires cramming yourself into a small spot, working high in the air in an elevator shaft or enduring very hot conditions in a machine room. But the job is essential, in-demand and high-paying. 

Electrical Power-Line Installer

• Median annual salary: $85,420

Although the median salary of an electrical power-line installer is a bit below the six-figure mark, many earn well above $100,000, according to the Philadelphia Technician Training Institute.

This is a very hands-on position that requires a high amount of skill and the ability to work in sometimes uncomfortable places. In addition to at least a high school diploma, certification for this high-skill job will require an apprenticeship.

Nuclear Technician

• Median annual salary: $101,740

In spite of the impressive name — and equally impressive annual salary — nuclear technician’s don’t need to be Ph.D.s to get a job. In fact, entry-level nuclear technicians only need an associate’s degree and some moderate on-the-job training, according to CNBC.

Although you’ll need to take precautions to avoid exposure to radiation, there aren’t many physical challenges to working as a nuclear technician. The BLS sees a decline in job openings in the field going forward, but that may change in the future as the world seeks to find alternatives to fossil fuels.

Construction and Building Inspectors

• Median annual salary: $67,700

Although the median salary for a building inspector is about $68,000, according to Accredited Schools Online, the highest 10% earn more than $106,000, so there is plenty of room for growth.

Building inspectors examine worksites and personal homes to ensure that they are safe and up to code. This may involve climbing ladders or working in tight or hot spaces at times. However, you only need a high school diploma to get into the field, along with some work experience in a construction trade. 

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

• Median annual salary: $100,890

You can get into the lucrative field of power distribution and dispatching with just a high school diploma and no experience in the field. However, you’ll have to undergo some extensive on-the-job training.

Essentially, your job will entail monitoring and controlling the systems that create and distribute power. Although growth in the field is negative, the BLS expects 3,800 jobs to open every year as workers retire or move to other fields.

Share This Article: