The best-paid professions in the skilled trades

Most people don't think of skilled trades when it comes to the best-paid professions - and wrongly so! For years, it has been ingrained in society's mind that skilled trades professions only offer poor pay, long hours and physical work with no intellectual challenges. They couldn't be more wrong (and narrow-minded!), as skilled trades professions have evolved a lot over the years and downright dream conditions are now on offer! Most craft businesses have been desperately looking for qualified employees in recent years, which is now also reflected in the salary statistics.  

Salaries in the skilled trades have now reached the level of various office jobs, and often even more is paid in the skilled trades! So now is the perfect time to enter the skilled trades for anyone who wants the best salary opportunities without sitting in a chair all day. Regardless of whether you want to start an apprenticeship, are looking to develop your career or want to enter the skilled trades as a career changer - you can find the best-paid jobs in the skilled trades here!

The best-paid skilled trades in Germany

Trades professions not only offer you security, but also very attractive salaries. Here are some of the best-paid professions in the skilled trades:

• Sewer builder: average annual salary of 61,000 euros
• Road builder: 61,500 euros annual salary 
• Roofer: annual salary of approx. 58,400 euros
• Electronics technician: annual salary of 45,000 euros
• Mechatronics technician: annual salary of approx. 44,300 euros

(Source: Indeed, August 2024)

The values given are average values from 2024 for the whole of Germany. Your personal salary in one of these professions depends heavily on your professional experience and further training, your company and the region. In a comparison of the federal states , salaries in the southern federal states are usually higher than in the rest of Germany and the new federal states are still often at the bottom of the league. However, there are now also some exceptions: For example, solar technicians in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can enjoy the third-highest salaries in Germany. 

One way to definitely increase your salary is to train as a master craftsman or technician in a skilled trade. For example, the average annual salary as an electrical technician is €48,193 (gehalt.de), which is a difference of around €2,000 per year compared to the salary of an electrician. Further training to become a master craftsman increases your salary significantly: with an annual salary of €60,149 (gehalt.de) as a master electrician, your salary will increase by a good €15,000!

Salaries in the skilled trades in the future

The skilled trades are an extremely future-proof industry that cannot be threatened by AI, environmental protection or anything else. Although the activities in the trade will change over the decades (and hopefully become easier with machine support!), the demand for tradespeople will always exist! One thing is certain in the skilled trades: human expertise is indispensable. No robot has yet managed to connect a toilet!

The forecast for salaries in the skilled trades is clear: salaries will continue to rise. No matter which area you enter, you can look forward to very good salaries! Of course, you can also make it easier for yourself by starting directly in one of the best-paid professions in the skilled trades!

In the future, even more areas will emerge in the skilled trades. For example, with the advent of renewable energies, it is now also possible to work as a solar technician or at one of the many hydroelectric power plants. If you would like to find out more about the salary opportunities in a specific skilled trade, you can find more useful information in our article on the salary as an HVAC plant mechanic, for example.

Apprenticeships and lateral entry jobs in the skilled trades

Entry into one of the best-paid skilled trades usually begins with an apprenticeship, but it is also becoming more and more typical to start as a career changer.
An apprenticeship in the skilled trades usually lasts three or three and a half years and is dual. This means that you acquire theoretical knowledge at a vocational college and are employed in a company at the same time. 

The possibility of retraining or further training should not be underestimated either: If you already have professional experience, you can start in a new profession within a very short time! It's also practical that you can do a lot of further training alongside your job , so you don't have to sacrifice your salary before you enter one of the best-paid professions. This allows you to catch up on missing skills and prepare for a new career field at the same time. 

Even without professional experience in the trades , it is possible to enter the trades as a career changer . The most important thing here is an interest in the work. With enough motivation, you can also get started straight away without any experience or knowledge. Skills and professional experience can be helpful, but are not essential. For example, an interest in technical topics can make it easier to get started in the electrical sector and help you understand your tasks straight away. You can find more information about the tasks of an electrician here: Electrician tasks.

Find jobs in the skilled trades on WorkerHero

If you are looking for jobs in the skilled trades, you have very good opportunities in Germany. Due to the high demand, you can often choose between several offers from companies and thus secure the best conditions! WorkerHero is the ideal platform for your job search: here you will not only find a wide range of job offers in various skilled trades, but also transparent information on salary, vacation days and your tasks! This makes it easy for you to find the best-paid vacancies in the skilled trades in your area. Our platform offers you a quick and easy job search, as well as comprehensive information on the respective professions and the associated requirements to make your decision easier. 

Even if you are new to Germany, you can find suitable jobs here and find out about your opportunities on the German job market. No matter how good your German language skills are, you'll find the right jobs for you on WorkerHero!
Take a look at our article on jobs in Germany for foreigners to find out how you can quickly find a good job as a foreign specialist and get off to a flying start in Germany.