Explore by Trade
The most popular trade programs. Click any trade to see school rankings, career paths, and salary data.
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
$17,290/yr37/100
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
$31,623/yr49/100
Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration
$69,475/yr66/100
Liberal Arts and Sciences
$27,616/yr39/100
Allied Health Diagnostic
$52,504/yr54/100
Health and Medical Administrative Services
$29,546/yr50/100
Practical Nursing
$44,152/yr61/100
Dental Support Services
$36,430/yr43/100
Criminal Justice and Corrections
$39,484/yr60/100
Business Administration
$35,542/yr59/100
Highest Ranked Trades
Top trades by TradeSchoolOutlook Score — combining earnings, ROI, job market size, and AI resilience.
| Trade | Score | Avg Earnings | AI-Proof | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Transportation | 68 | $41,481 | AI-Proof | 96 |
| Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration | 66 | $69,475 | Moderate | 947 |
| Practical Nursing | 61 | $44,152 | AI-Proof | 703 |
| Building/Construction Finishing | 61 | $36,482 | AI-Proof | 44 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 60 | $39,484 | Resilient | 469 |
| Business Administration | 59 | $35,542 | Moderate | 455 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 58 | $36,982 | Moderate | 130 |
| Fire Protection | 58 | $51,104 | Resilient | 37 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 57 | $43,306 | AI-Proof | 214 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies | 57 | $38,663 | AI-Proof | 409 |
Best Value Trade Schools
Schools with the highest average TradeSchoolOutlook Score across all their programs. Community colleges and public schools dominate.
| School | Score | Tuition | Avg Earnings | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck State College ND · Public | 61 | $5,195 | $57,791 | 11 |
| Gateway Community and Technical College KY · Public | 60 | $4,656 | $46,993 | 14 |
| Hennepin Technical College MN · Public | 60 | $5,881 | $52,059 | 15 |
| Washtenaw Community College MI · Public | 60 | $2,736 | $45,332 | 11 |
| Arapahoe Community College CO · Public | 60 | $4,308 | $47,579 | 13 |
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College KY · Public | 60 | $4,656 | $45,486 | 16 |
| Hagerstown Community College MD · Public | 60 | $4,320 | $46,478 | 10 |
| Dakota County Technical College MN · Public | 60 | $6,419 | $50,429 | 15 |
| Anoka Technical College MN · Public | 60 | $6,267 | $44,529 | 10 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville FL · Public | 60 | $2,878 | $46,402 | 19 |
Fastest Growing Trades
Trade fields with the highest projected job growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034).
| Trade | Score | Avg Earnings | Growth | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing & Nursing Administration | 66 | $69,475 | +17.4% | 947 |
| Somatic Bodywork | 31 | $20,588 | +16.4% | 224 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 55 | $38,486 | +12.0% | 109 |
| Animal Health Technologies | 40 | $32,475 | +11.7% | 169 |
| Computer Systems Networking | 49 | $39,678 | +11.0% | 92 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 49 | $31,623 | +9.9% | 1,065 |
| Public Health | 40 | $31,660 | +9.7% | 31 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 45 | $31,879 | +8.5% | 24 |
| Heating & Air Conditioning | 46 | $36,780 | +8.1% | 260 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | 37 | $36,235 | +7.9% | 48 |
Most AI-Proof Trades
Hands-on trades with the lowest AI automation exposure. These careers require physical skills that technology can't replace.
| Trade | Score | Avg Earnings | AI-Proof | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies | 56 | $51,528 | AI-Proof | 80 |
| Building/Construction Finishing | 61 | $36,482 | AI-Proof | 44 |
| Heating & Air Conditioning | 46 | $36,780 | AI-Proof | 260 |
| Precision Metal Working | 56 | $36,870 | AI-Proof | 355 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies | 57 | $38,663 | AI-Proof | 409 |
| Ground Transportation | 68 | $41,481 | AI-Proof | 96 |
| Electrical/Electronics Maintenance | 46 | $39,715 | AI-Proof | 54 |
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | 44 | $42,964 | AI-Proof | 28 |
| Practical Nursing | 61 | $44,152 | AI-Proof | 703 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 57 | $43,306 | AI-Proof | 214 |
Browse by State
Trade school is local. Find programs in your state.
How TradeSchoolOutlook Scores Work
Real Earnings Data
Actual trade school graduate salaries from the U.S. Department of Education, not self-reported surveys.
AI-Proof Rating
Every career path rated for AI resilience — most trades score well because they require hands-on skills.
10-Year Projection
Earnings growth modeled from real graduate salary data and BLS projections — one confident line, because trades don't face volatile AI disruption.
0–100 Score
A single number combining earnings, ROI, job market size, and AI resilience into one comparable metric.