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 Hawaii
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
SolarTIGHTENING
TDI
68.3
COL-adj wage
$63k
10-yr growth
+34%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
2
FlooringBALANCED
TDI
67.6
COL-adj wage
$70k
10-yr growth
+13%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
3
General ContractingSURPLUS
TDI
60.1
COL-adj wage
$116k
10-yr growth
+9%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
4
ElectricalSURPLUS
TDI
57.9
COL-adj wage
$87k
10-yr growth
+6%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
5
PlumbingSURPLUS
TDI
46.8
COL-adj wage
$70k
10-yr growth
+1%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
6
Garage DoorsSURPLUSLOW CONFIDENCE
TDI
46.7
COL-adj wage
—
10-yr growth
+12%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
7
Windows & DoorsSURPLUS
TDI
46.6
COL-adj wage
$73k
10-yr growth
+1%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
8
Concrete & MasonrySURPLUS
TDI
46.5
COL-adj wage
$86k
10-yr growth
-3%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
9
Pool & SpaBALANCED
TDI
45.9
COL-adj wage
$52k
10-yr growth
+8%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
10
HVACSURPLUS
TDI
44.4
COL-adj wage
$59k
10-yr growth
+4%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
11
PaintingSURPLUS
TDI
43.4
COL-adj wage
$61k
10-yr growth
+4%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
12
Fire ProtectionSURPLUS
TDI
43
COL-adj wage
$74k
10-yr growth
+2%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
13
LandscapingBALANCED
TDI
37.9
COL-adj wage
$41k
10-yr growth
+9%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
14
InsulationSURPLUSLOW CONFIDENCE
TDI
34.3
COL-adj wage
—
10-yr growth
—
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
15
Appliance RepairSURPLUS
TDI
33.1
COL-adj wage
$53k
10-yr growth
-2%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
16
Pest ControlSURPLUS
TDI
32.1
COL-adj wage
$44k
10-yr growth
+8%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
17
RoofingSURPLUS
TDI
30
COL-adj wage
$54k
10-yr growth
+2%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
18
Cleaning & RestorationSURPLUS
TDI
29.4
COL-adj wage
$34k
10-yr growth
+6%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
19
LocksmithSURPLUS
TDI
28.6
COL-adj wage
$58k
10-yr growth
-10%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
20
FencingSURPLUSLOW CONFIDENCE
TDI
25.7
COL-adj wage
—
10-yr growth
+2%
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