Upskill to get Paid More as a Employed Tradie

Upskilling to get paid more is a surefire way to maximise the amount of money per unit of time you’re pulling in. 💰 If you’ve made the choice to remain an employed tradie — or at least for the foreseeable future — this is exactly how you should be thinking about it: maximising your value per unit of time.

The best metaphor? Think about seeing a generalist doctor vs. a specialist. A specialist went through the same or similar training as a GP initially but then moved to specialise in a certain field of medicine. 💉🩺 That’s a great concept to apply to being in the trade. The more scarce and specific your skill set is, the higher you can charge per hour or per day.

What Counts as Upskilling?

Skills don’t just come in the way of your trade. They can also be:

✅ Leadership
✅ Communication
✅ Initiative
✅ Sales and client management

Of course, you should definitely focus on the obvious stuff too: all the trade-specific skills and certifications like confined spaces, EWP, or whatever is most relevant to your trade. And whether you’re on a residential site, a commercial site, or a union site — they all have their differences, and understanding them gives you an edge. ⚡

Find the Highest-Paid Pocket in Your Trade

A great idea is to do some research and focus on where the highest-paid niche is in your trade.

• If you’re a chippy, it might be in specialist cladding, fine joinery, or finishing work.

• If you’re a sparky, it could be in the latest European smart home technology or complex automation systems.

• If you’re a plumber, it might be high-end commercial installs or advanced mechanical systems.

Find the pockets where skill scarcity exists and position yourself there.

Stack Up Certifications

📜 Having the right tickets opens doors. Consider adding:

✅ EWP (Elevating Work Platforms)
✅ Confined Spaces Ticket
✅ Working at Heights
✅ First Aid
✅ High-Risk Work Licences

These are especially valuable in commercial and industrial settings, where the safety and legal requirements are tighter, and companies pay more for fully ticketed staff.

Don’t Forget Soft Skills

Upskilling isn’t just about what you can do with your hands. 🧠 It’s about how you present yourself on the job:

• Are you someone who communicates clearly with the boss and the team?

• Can you manage clients and expectations professionally?

• Do you show initiative by solving problems before they escalate?

These traits make you stand out and often fast-track you into leading hand or supervisory roles, which come with higher pay.

Look at Leadership Opportunities

If you want to jump your income bracket, leadership is often the most straightforward way. 💪 Leading hands, site supervisors, or project managers earn more because they take responsibility, manage teams, and ensure the site runs smoothly.

If you’re reliable, organised, and good at getting people to work together, start positioning yourself for leadership roles. Upskilling in leadership can include:

✅ Time management
✅ Team communication
✅ Conflict resolution
✅ Reading and understanding plans or blueprints

Stay Ahead on Industry Trends

Every trade is evolving. The top tradies stay ahead of the curve. Whether it’s understanding the latest materials, sustainable building practices, smart systems, or advanced tools, being able to offer cutting-edge expertise makes you more valuable.

🔧 Pro tip: Subscribe to trade magazines, follow industry news, and network with top-tier tradies who are already at the top of their game.

Talk to Your Boss About Pay Increases

Once you’ve stacked up extra skills, don’t be afraid to talk to your boss about a pay increase. Explain how you’ve increased your value and how that impacts the business. Remember, bosses are usually open to paying more if they see the return on investment.

✅ Highlight the additional responsibilities you can take on
✅ Emphasise the savings or efficiency you bring to the team
✅ Show that you’re invested in growing your contribution

Keep Building Your Network

Networking isn’t just for business owners. Even as an employed tradie, who you know can shape your career. Being known in the right circles opens doors to better-paying gigs, specialist contracts, or even inside tips on upskilling opportunities.

🤝 Attend trade events, connect with peers, and stay active in industry groups.

Final Word

Upskilling isn’t just about stacking certifications for the sake of it. It’s about increasing your value per unit of time. The more you can offer, the more you can earn. By combining technical mastery, leadership skills, and a smart understanding of where the best-paying work is, you can set yourself up for a career that pays you what you deserve.

The Intrade crew is here to help you navigate your next steps — whether it’s choosing which ticket to go after or figuring out how to position yourself for a raise. Let’s make sure you’re not just working hard — but getting paid hard too. 💥💪