Location matters. A welder in Houston earns differently than one in San Francisco—and their cost of living is wildly different too. We ranked the 8 best states for trade school graduates based on three factors:
- Trades salary levels (BLS data)
- Job availability (openings per capita)
- Cost of living adjustment (real purchasing power)
1. Texas
Avg. trades salary: $62,000 | Cost of living: 8% below national avg.
Texas is the undisputed champion for skilled trades. The combination of a massive manufacturing base (aerospace, oil & gas, defense), no state income tax, and affordable housing makes it the top destination.
Top metros: Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin
Key industries: Oil & gas, aerospace (SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Bell), semiconductor manufacturing (Texas Instruments, Samsung)
2. Ohio
Avg. trades salary: $58,000 | Cost of living: 11% below national avg.
Ohio's manufacturing heritage runs deep. The state is home to Honda, GE Aviation, and hundreds of small-to-mid-size shops. Low cost of living means your dollar goes further.
Top metros: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton
Key industries: Auto manufacturing, aerospace, steel, plastics
3. Tennessee
Avg. trades salary: $56,000 | Cost of living: 10% below national avg.
Tennessee has attracted massive manufacturing investment: Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Nissan in Smyrna, and new EV battery plants across the state. No state income tax.
Top metros: Nashville, Chattanooga, Memphis, Knoxville
4. Georgia
Avg. trades salary: $57,000 | Cost of living: 7% below national avg.
Savannah's port drives logistics and manufacturing growth. Hyundai's $7.6 billion EV plant in Bryan County is creating thousands of skilled trades jobs.
Top metros: Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta
Key industries: Auto manufacturing, aerospace (Lockheed in Marietta), food processing
5. Indiana
Avg. trades salary: $56,500 | Cost of living: 12% below national avg.
Indiana has the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs per capita of any U.S. state. If you're in the trades, this is where the work is.
Top metros: Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Elkhart, Lafayette
Key industries: Auto parts, RV manufacturing, steel, pharmaceuticals (Eli Lilly)
6. North Carolina
Avg. trades salary: $55,000 | Cost of living: 5% below national avg.
The Research Triangle and Charlotte areas are booming with advanced manufacturing. Toyota, Boom Supersonic, and Wolfspeed are all building major facilities.
Top metros: Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro
7. Washington
Avg. trades salary: $72,000 | Cost of living: 9% above national avg.
Washington pays the highest raw trades salaries outside California, driven by Boeing's Everett factory, naval shipyards, and a strong union presence. The cost of living is higher, but the math still works—especially outside Seattle.
Top metros: Seattle/Everett, Tacoma, Spokane, Tri-Cities
Key industries: Aerospace (Boeing), shipbuilding, nuclear (Hanford), tech manufacturing
8. South Carolina
Avg. trades salary: $54,000 | Cost of living: 9% below national avg.
BMW, Boeing, Volvo, and dozens of tier-1 automotive suppliers have plants in South Carolina. The state has invested heavily in technical college programs that feed directly into these employers.
Top metros: Greenville-Spartanburg, Charleston, Columbia
State Comparison Table
| State | Avg. Salary | CoL Index | Real Salary* | Top Industry | |-------|------------|-----------|-------------|--------------| | Texas | $62,000 | 92 | $67,400 | Aerospace/Oil & Gas | | Ohio | $58,000 | 89 | $65,200 | Auto/Aerospace | | Tennessee | $56,000 | 90 | $62,200 | Auto Manufacturing | | Georgia | $57,000 | 93 | $61,300 | Auto/Aerospace | | Indiana | $56,500 | 88 | $64,200 | Auto Parts/Steel | | North Carolina | $55,000 | 95 | $57,900 | Advanced Mfg | | Washington | $72,000 | 109 | $66,100 | Aerospace/Shipbuilding | | South Carolina | $54,000 | 91 | $59,300 | Auto/Aerospace |
Real salary = nominal salary adjusted for cost of living (national avg = 100)
Honorable Mentions
- Louisiana — Strong petrochemical and shipbuilding wages, but limited to certain regions
- Alabama — Mercedes, Hyundai, and Airbus plants; very low cost of living
- Michigan — Still the auto capital, but higher taxes and declining population
- Arizona — Growing semiconductor manufacturing (TSMC, Intel) driving skilled trades demand
How to Choose Your State
- Follow the employers. Where are the companies you want to work for?
- Calculate real salary. A $70k salary in Seattle may buy less than $55k in Indianapolis.
- Check training programs. Some states have better trade school funding and programs than others.
- Consider unions. If union membership matters to you, Washington, Ohio, and Indiana have strong union presence.
Salary data: Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities. Job availability: HireBuilt employer database.
