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 Virginia
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
SolarCRITICAL
TDI
66.4
COL-adj wage
$48k
10-yr growth
+40%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
2
General ContractingTIGHTENING
TDI
66.3
COL-adj wage
$117k
10-yr growth
+8%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
3
ElectricalBALANCED
TDI
63.5
COL-adj wage
$62k
10-yr growth
+7%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
4
FlooringTIGHTENING
TDI
57.2
COL-adj wage
$49k
10-yr growth
+9%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
5
HVACBALANCED
TDI
55.7
COL-adj wage
$59k
10-yr growth
+6%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
6
PlumbingBALANCED
TDI
53.1
COL-adj wage
$59k
10-yr growth
+3%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
7
Fire ProtectionTIGHTENING
TDI
50.6
COL-adj wage
$67k
10-yr growth
+3%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
8
Windows & DoorsSURPLUS
TDI
50.2
COL-adj wage
$58k
10-yr growth
+2%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
9
Garage DoorsBALANCED
TDI
46.3
COL-adj wage
$50k
10-yr growth
+9%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
10
Appliance RepairBALANCED
TDI
45.1
COL-adj wage
$59k
10-yr growth
-3%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
11
Pool & SpaBALANCED
TDI
43.1
COL-adj wage
$49k
10-yr growth
+4%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
12
Concrete & MasonryBALANCED
TDI
41.2
COL-adj wage
$50k
10-yr growth
-4%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
13
PaintingBALANCED
TDI
37.8
COL-adj wage
$47k
10-yr growth
+2%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
14
LandscapingBALANCED
TDI
35.1
COL-adj wage
$38k
10-yr growth
+4%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
15
InsulationBALANCED
TDI
34.1
COL-adj wage
$44k
10-yr growth
+3%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
16
RoofingBALANCED
TDI
33
COL-adj wage
$47k
10-yr growth
+2%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
17
LocksmithTIGHTENING
TDI
32.9
COL-adj wage
$53k
10-yr growth
-7%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
18
Pest ControlBALANCED
TDI
32.9
COL-adj wage
$45k
10-yr growth
+4%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
19
Cleaning & RestorationBALANCED
TDI
29.6
COL-adj wage
$34k
10-yr growth
+1%
Projection scorecard
Market
Wage
Growth
Security
20
FencingBALANCED
TDI
29.3
COL-adj wage
$39k
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