Trade
National TDI
69/ 100
Median wage
$69k
10-yr projected growth
+13%
States in shortage
18of 50
01 · The map
Shortage signal, by state
Each tile is a state, shaded by how tight the market is for Electrical — postings and structural pressure measured against the local workforce. Select a state to rank its trades below.
DC
Shortage signalSurplusBalancedTighteningShortageCritical
Tightest markets
Electrical · top 10 states
02 · The roundup
Most in-demand
trades in Delaware
Change state
Ranked by state TDI. Wage is adjusted to local cost of living, so a lower headline number can still mean more take-home.
1
ElectricalSURPLUS
TDI
66.1
COL-adj wage
$65k
10-yr growth
+13%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
2
HVACBALANCED
TDI
59.9
COL-adj wage
$64k
10-yr growth
+12%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
3
General ContractingSURPLUS
TDI
59.4
COL-adj wage
$135k
10-yr growth
+9%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
4
PlumbingSURPLUS
TDI
56.3
COL-adj wage
$66k
10-yr growth
+8%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
5
Garage DoorsTIGHTENINGLOW CONFIDENCE
TDI
55
COL-adj wage
—
10-yr growth
+20%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
6
FlooringSURPLUSLOW CONFIDENCE
TDI
52.5
COL-adj wage
—
10-yr growth
—
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
7
Pool & SpaBALANCED
TDI
45.7
COL-adj wage
$51k
10-yr growth
+9%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
8
Concrete & MasonrySURPLUS
TDI
45.2
COL-adj wage
$58k
10-yr growth
+3%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
9
Fire ProtectionSURPLUS
TDI
45
COL-adj wage
$77k
10-yr growth
+4%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
10
PaintingSURPLUS
TDI
45
COL-adj wage
$60k
10-yr growth
+6%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
11
RoofingSURPLUS
TDI
42.3
COL-adj wage
$61k
10-yr growth
+7%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
12
SolarSURPLUSLOW CONFIDENCE
TDI
39.2
COL-adj wage
—
10-yr growth
—
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
13
InsulationSURPLUSLOW CONFIDENCE
TDI
38.1
COL-adj wage
$55k
10-yr growth
—
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
14
Windows & DoorsSURPLUSLOW CONFIDENCE
TDI
32.5
COL-adj wage
—
10-yr growth
+0%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
15
Appliance RepairSURPLUS
TDI
31.5
COL-adj wage
$54k
10-yr growth
-11%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
16
LocksmithSURPLUS
TDI
30.1
COL-adj wage
$65k
10-yr growth
-14%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
17
Cleaning & RestorationSURPLUS
TDI
28.5
COL-adj wage
$36k
10-yr growth
+6%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
18
FencingSURPLUS
TDI
24.7
COL-adj wage
$52k
10-yr growth
+0%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
19
LandscapingSURPLUS
TDI
23.1
COL-adj wage
$38k
10-yr growth
+2%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
20
Pest ControlSURPLUSLOW CONFIDENCE
TDI
22.6
COL-adj wage
$46k
10-yr growth
—
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
03 · The calculator
Trade vs. college,
net of debt
Cumulative earnings minus outstanding debt, from age 18, starting from Electrical’s real median wage. The trade path earns from day one; the degree path pays tuition first, then catches up — sometimes. Move the sliders.
Trade starting wage$48k
Grad starting salary$58k
Tuition & costs / yr$24k
Assumes 4-yr degree, 6% loan interest, 18% of income to repayment, 3%/yr raises. Trade path: apprentice ramp yrs 1–4, journeyman after.
Trade at age 30
$625k
Degree at age 30
$449k
Trade ahead by
$176k
Age 18Age 24Age 30
Trade path4-yr degreeTrade leads through age 30