Most pay calculators only do arithmetic on the numbers you type. These start from PayByTrade's own data: local pay ladders for 42 trades in 393 metros, HUD rents, local price levels, business counts and more, so every answer is anchored to what people in your trade actually earn where you'd live. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Which tool do you need?
I'm not sure which trade to go into.
ToolWhich trade fits me?Ranks all 42 trades on pay, growth, safety and work conditions you care about, and can rule out trades with regular heights or outdoor work.Where should I work in my trade?
ToolFind my best cityRanks up to 393 metros by pay, buying power, rent, job market and unemployment, weighted your way.Is moving from one city to another worth it?
ToolCity vs. citySide-by-side pay, prices, rent and job market for two cities, plus the salary you'd need to keep the same buying power.Can I live on this trade's pay there?
ToolCan I afford it?A monthly budget from local pay, HUD rent and local prices. A Denver plumber at the $63,900 median starts with HUD's $1,831 1-bedroom rent.Is this job offer any good?
ToolIs this offer good?Places an offer on the local pay ladder. In Sacramento, electricians' middle half earns $52,720–$98,130, so you can see exactly where an offer lands.What should I charge on my own?
ToolRate calculatorTurns a salary into a break-even and target hourly rate. At the U.S. electrician median ($62,440) the break-even is about $77/hr at 1,400 billable hours.Is this 1099 rate better than a W-2 job?
Tool1099 vs. W-2Compares the two after business costs, self-employment tax and insurance, and gives the contractor rate where they break even.Planning a move or a career change?
- Not sure where to start? Try Which trade fits me? and open a trade from your results.
- Find places with Find my best city, then compare your top two in City vs. city.
- Check real numbers: what you can afford there and whether an offer is good.
- Going independent? Set your hourly rate and test any 1099 offer.
The tools hand your trade and city to each other, so you don't have to start over.
Rankings and maps
Not a calculator, but built the same way: the best cities to start a trade business, outdoor work weather by city, all trades ranked by pay and growth and trade pay by state.
FAQ
Are the tools really free?
Yes. No sign-up, no email, no limits.
Do you save what I type?
No. Every calculation runs in your browser; nothing is sent to us or stored.
Where do the starting numbers come from?
From the same government data as the rest of PayByTrade: BLS pay for 42 trades in 393 metros, HUD rents, BEA prices, Census business counts and more.
Are the results advice?
No. They're planning estimates with the assumptions shown on each tool. Use them to compare options, then check big decisions with a professional.
What powers the tools
- Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median and 10th–90th percentile pay by trade and metro
- Living costs: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 and BEA Regional Price Parities 2024
- Work and outlook: BLS projections, injury rates and O*NET work conditions
- Local markets: Census business counts and building permits, BLS unemployment