New research reveals the best states to attend a trade school in 2025.
The study, conducted by university ranking site Research.com, analyzed the average salary of trade school graduates across all states. The ranking determines which locations offer the best financial outcomes for those learning practical skills at trade schools, such as plumbing, welding, or auto mechanics.
Georgia ranks as the best state to attend a trade school based on earnings, with graduates making an average salary of $86,881. This is $23,268 above the national average of $63,613, according to salaries reported by Research.com.
Washington follows in second place. The state’s trade school students earn $12,387 above the national average, with graduates making $76,000 on average.
Massachusetts is home to the third-highest trade school salary, with graduates earning $73,335 on average. This is $9,722 above the national average.
In fourth place, with an average salary of $72,100, is New York. Trade school graduates in this state can expect to earn $8,487 above the national average.
Alaska follows in fifth, with an average salary of $71,100. According to the study, this is $7,487 above the national average in America.
Oregon follows as the sixth best state for trade schools, with graduates earning $70,996 on average, which is $7,383 above the national average.
Table 1: The best U.S. states for trade schools
Rank | State | Average salary of trade school graduates |
1 | Georgia | $86,881 |
2 | Washington | $76,000 |
3 | Massachusetts | $73,335 |
4 | New York | $72,100 |
5 | Alaska | $71,100 |
6 | Oregon | $70,996 |
7 | Colorado | $70,608 |
8 | Hawaii | $69,765 |
9 | Nevada | $68,000 |
10 | Missouri | $67,900 |
Colorado follows in seventh, with an average salary of $70,608 for trade school graduates. Hawaii and Nevada rank eighth and ninth, with average salaries of $69,765 and $68,000, respectively. Missouri is the tenth-best state to attend a trade school in 2025, with graduates earning $67,900 on average.
At the other end of the study, New Jersey ranks as the state with the lowest average salary for trade school graduates at $45,000. This is $18,613 below the national average of $63,613, according to Research.com.
California ranks as the second-lowest state for trade school graduate earnings. With an average salary coming in at $50,000, graduates from California trade schools can expect to earn $13,613 less than the national average.
Vermont ranks as the third lowest, with trade school graduates earning an average of $51,300. West Virginia and Wisconsin follow in fourth and fifth, with a graduate salary of $51,985 and $55,365, respectively.
Table 2: The worst U.S. states for trade schools
Rank | State | Average salary of trade school graduates |
1 | New Jersey | $45,000 |
2 | California | $50,000 |
3 | Vermont | $51,300 |
4 | West Virginia | $51,985 |
5 | Wisconsin | $55,365 |
6 | Arkansas | $56,200 |
7 | Florida | $56,214 |
8 | Louisiana | $57,421 |
9 | Kentucky | $58,321 |
10 | Kansas | $59,887 |
Imed Bouchrika, Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist at Research.com, commented on the findings,
"Trade schools offer a direct path to well-paying careers without substantial student debt. With the rising cost of education and the growing demand for skilled trades across the country, many students are reconsidering the traditional college path and choosing to attend trade schools.
“The data suggests that in many states learning a trade can lead to a comfortable career with a significant salary, reaching up to $86,881 on average in states like Georgia.
“While some states in the Northeast and West Coast offer strong salaries for trade professionals, others in these same regions rank among the lowest. This suggests that local economic factors, industry presence, and labor market conditions play more important roles in determining trade salaries than simple regional patterns.”
Post courtesy https://research.com/rankings/
Sources
Research.com
Methodology
This study analyzes the average salary of trade school graduates in each state, using data collected and analyzed by Research.com. Trade schools in this study refer to educational institutions that teach hands-on, practical skills for specific careers such as plumbing, welding, electrical work, automotive repair, and similar vocations.
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