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What is the average hourly pay for a Skilled Trades job? Check out our hourly pay calculator to find out and even look up the average pay in your locale.

We have complied information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to help you get a better idea of employment in the Skilled Trades field. Below are highlights of the major professions within this industry.

Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers

• Knowledge of electrical equipment and electronics is necessary for employment; employers often prefer applicants with an associate degree in electronics.

• Employment is projected to grow more slowly than average for all occupations.

• Job opportunities will be best for applicants with an associate degree, certification, and related experience.

Plasterers and Stucco Masons

• Plastering is physically demanding work.

• Becoming a skilled plasterer or stucco mason generally requires 3 or 4 years of training, either informally on the job or through a formal apprenticeship.

• Good employment opportunities are expected.

• The best employment opportunities should continue to be in Florida, California, and the Southwest.

Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders-Metal and Plastic

• Manufacturing industries employ more than 90 percent of workers.

• A few weeks of on-the-job training is sufficient for most workers to learn basic machine operations, but a year or more is required to become a highly skilled operator or setter.

• Overall employment of machine setters, operators, and tenders is projected to decline rapidly over the 2006-16 period as a result of productivity improvements and competition for jobs from abroad.

• Those who can operate multiple machines will have the best opportunities for advancement and for gaining jobs with more long-term potential.

Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Workers

• About 2 out of 3 jobs are in manufacturing industries.

• Training ranges from a few weeks of school or on-the-job training to several years of combined school and on-the-job training.

  is projected to grow more slowly than average.

• Job prospects should be excellent as employers report difficulty finding enough qualified people.