Compare the real hourly rate for trades professions after commuting, overtime, and hidden expenses. See which trades jobs actually pay the best.
| Profession | Salary | Nominal Rate | True Rate | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Worker | $31,000 | $15.50/hr | $9.92/hr | 36% |
| Construction Worker | $42,680 | $21.34/hr | $13.41/hr | 37% |
| Electrician | $61,590 | $30.80/hr | $20.84/hr | 32% |
| Truck Driver | $49,920 | $24.96/hr | $15.98/hr | 36% |
| Chef / Cook | $35,000 | $17.50/hr | $11.16/hr | 36% |
| Mechanic | $46,880 | $23.44/hr | $15.62/hr | 33% |
Your Income
Hidden Time
Hours you work for free
Hidden Costs
Money you spend because you have a job
Gas, public transit, or rideshare
What you spend that you wouldn't at home
Tools, certifications, dry cleaning, etc.
Among trades professions, electricians have the highest nominal salary at $61,590/year, with a true hourly rate of $20.84/hr. However, jobs with less overtime and shorter commutes may have better true rates relative to their salary.
Trades professionals typically lose 25–40% of their nominal hourly rate to hidden costs and unpaid time. The biggest factors are commuting (25–30 min/day), unpaid overtime (2–3 hrs/week), and daily work expenses.
In trades, overtime ranges from 2 to 3 hours per week. Higher-paying positions like electrician often require more unpaid hours, which significantly reduces the true hourly rate.