During the most recent update to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data, careers in the skilled trades saw a marked increase in average annual pay. Other careers that are not considered skilled trades, but can be learned at trade schools, including those in the beauty, medical, and dental industries, also experienced a rise in annual pay averages.
List Of Past Salaries vs Current Salaries By Career
Here’s a list of occupations that saw salary increases, including ones in the construction, mechanic, cosmetology, and medical industries. Annual pay listed includes the most recent available data from 2021, compared to the data of 2018.
Skilled Trades & Construction Salaries (2021 Data)
Skilled trades workers, such as electrical, welding, HVAC, and CDL truck drivers saw substantial increases in pay.
- Electrician: average salary was $59,190 per year in 2018, which went up to $63,310 per year in 2021.
- Truck Driver: average salary was $45,570 per year in 2018, that increased to $50,340 per year in 2021.
- Welding: average salary was $44,360 per year in 2018, which went up to $48,290 per year in 2021.
- HVAC Technician: average salary was $50,160 per year in 2018, which increased to $54,690 per year in 2021.
Mechanic Salaries (2021 Data)
Careers like automotive technician, diesel mechanic, and aircraft mechanic themselves have seen increases in pay since 2018.
- Auto Technician: average salary was $43,730 per year in 2018, that increased to $47,990 per year in 2021.
- Diesel Mechanic: median salary was $47,350 per year in 2018, which went up to $53,020 per year in 2021.
- Aircraft Mechanic: average salary was $65,230 per year in 2018, that increased to $69,470 per year in 2021.
Beauty & Wellness Career Salaries (2021 Data)
Cosmetology careers in the past several years have also seen an increase in salary.
- Barber: average pay was $33,220 per year in 2018, that increased to $35,770 per year in 2021.
- Cosmetologist: average pay was $30,190 per year, which went up to $35,990 per year in 2021.
- Licensed Massage Therapist: average salary was $45,880 per year in 2018; that increased to $49,260 per year in 2021.
Medical & Dental Career Salaries (2021 Data)
The annual pay averages for workers in the medical and dental fields, like medical assistant, surgical tech, and dental assistant, rose as well.
- Medical Assistant: average salary was $34,540 per year in 2018, which went up to $38,190 per year in 2021.
- Pharmacy Tech: average salary was $34,020 per year in 2018; that increased to $37,970 per year in 2021.
- Surgical Tech: average salary was $49,040 per year in 2018, which went up to $53,590 per year in 2021.
- Dental Assistant: average salary was $39,770 per year in 2018; that increased to $42,510 per year in 2021.
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