10 of the Best Types of Trade Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Trade jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Trade Jobs

• Trade Executive

  Salary range: $58,000 - $120,500

  The different types of executive jobs include upper- and senior-level management as well as the C-suite—the highest levels of senior management. The C-suite executives have the word “chief” at the beginning of their titles: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are the most common. Companies with a heavy reliance on information technology may also have a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Other executive jobs include vice president and director of various departments.

• Union Trade

  Salary range: $50,500 - $81,500

  For those who work for unions, some of the specific jobs include researchers, organizers, administrators, lawyers, communications workers, and clerical staff. Your duties include entering workplaces to speak with workers and provide them encouragement and support if they are interested in joining a specific union, or to negotiate with employers for better working conditions, pay, or benefits for union members. There are numerous types of unions, including health care, public sector, construction, writing, and service workers unions, and they represent a variety of professions, such as nurses, journalists, manufacturers, construction workers, municipal workers, and hotel workers, to name only a few.

• Trade Manager

  Salary range: $50,500 - $81,500

  Managers supervise a team of people; they establish goals, assign tasks, and measure progress. The specific responsibilities of someone in a management position will vary based on the company and industry they work in, but their primary responsibilities remain largely the same. Managers monitor the accomplishments of their staff, focusing on the overall goals of the department. They work with Human Resources to determine and address staffing needs, coordinate and delegate responsibilities, check employee performance, and provide additional training and direction when necessary.

• Full Time Trade

  Salary range: $50,500 - $81,500

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Temp Trade

  Salary range: $39,500 - $71,500

  Temp Trade is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Temp Trade jobs pay between $39,500 (25th percentile) and $71,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Temp Trade job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Junior Trade

  Salary range: $34,000 - $69,000

  Junior Trade is a common job search query. Most salaries for Junior Trade jobs pay between $34,000 (25th percentile) and $69,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Junior Trade job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Entry Level Trade

  Salary range: $40,000 - $64,000

  The qualifications for an entry-level trade job vary by the trade. Most employers require that job candidates start as an apprentice or get postsecondary education at a vocational school to gain the necessary experience. Plumbers and electricians, for example, must obtain a license. Some require a valid driver’s license, a background check, and random drug testing. General construction laborer jobs are the most flexible, and you can usually learn your trade with on-the-job training. The Home Builders Institute offers several programs in specialties like brick masonry, wiring, and painting. Keen technical and mechanical skills are necessary for most occupations, with some requiring computer proficiency as well.

• Trade Coordinator

  Salary range: $48,000 - $59,000

  Coordinators plan and schedule events, programs, or projects. In this position, you can work in a variety of industries, so your duties and the necessary qualifications vary by field. There are project coordinators who work in the construction, manufacturing, and development industries, program coordinators, who typically work in education, community outreach, or non-profit organizations, and numerous other positions that require significant coordination experience. For those who work in labor industries, coordination might include developing timetables and budgets for the ordering and delivery of materials or services, while at a school, an instructional coordinator might prepare an afterschool program curriculum.

• Per Diem Trade

  Salary range: $43,000 - $58,500

  Per diem jobs are short-term positions which are paid by the day. The most common per diem job opportunities are in the medical field, including positions in nursing, hospice, pediatrics, and midwifery. Phlebotomists, operating (OR) assistants, and pharmacists may also work on a per diem basis. Per diem employees are often contracted to work as admissions coordinators, recreation coordinators, and assistants.

• Trade Apprentice

  Salary range: $38,000 - $52,500

  Trade Apprentice is a common job search query. Most salaries for Trade Apprentice jobs pay between $38,000 (25th percentile) and $52,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Trade Apprentice job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.