One of the biggest questions new trade workers ask is simple: “When do I get a raise?” The honest answer? Raises and promotions in the skilled trades don’t usually follow a strict calendar, but they do follow patterns.

If you understand how those patterns work, you can position yourself to earn more money faster instead of waiting around and hoping someone notices.

The Most Common Times Raises Happen

In the trades, pay increases usually happen during specific milestones, not randomly.

1. After an Apprenticeship Step or Hours Benchmark

In union and structured apprenticeship programs, raises are often automatic after completing a set number of hours or training levels.

For example:

• Electrical apprentices moving from 1st to 2nd year
• HVAC apprentices completing required classroom hours
• Pipefitters or welders hitting certification stages

These raises are planned, but only if you’re progressing on schedule.

2. When You Prove You Can Work With Less Supervision

In non-union or smaller shops, raises often happen when you stop being “extra work” for the crew.

Once you can:

• Read basic plans or schematics
• Complete tasks without constant checking
• Show up prepared and on time every day

Your value jumps. That’s usually when pay conversations start.

3. At Annual or Semi-Annual Reviews (If They Exist)

Some companies do formal reviews once or twice a year. Others don’t, but many still quietly use those timeframes to adjust pay.

If your company has reviews and you don’t bring up growth, there’s a good chance nothing changes.

How Promotions Actually Work in the Trades

Promotions in skilled trades are less about titles and more about responsibility and trust.

From Apprentice to Journeyman

This is the clearest promotion path in trades like electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. It usually requires:

• Logged work hours
• Passing exams
• Demonstrating safe, competent work

Pay increases here are significant, but only if you’re ready when the opportunity opens.

From Journeyman to Lead or Foreman

This promotion isn’t just about skill level. Employers look for:

• Reliability under pressure
• Ability to communicate with apprentices and customers
• Problem-solving on job sites

Many excellent welders, electricians, or HVAC techs never get promoted because they can’t manage people or jobs, not because they lack technical skill.

Specialization = A Quiet Promotion

In trades, learning a high-value skill can act like a promotion without the title:

• Controls and automation in HVAC
• Industrial electrical work
• Specialized welding processes
• Service diagnostics vs. install work
• These skills often come with better pay and more consistent work.

Why Raises Don’t Happen Automatically

This is where many trade workers get frustrated. Most employers assume:

• If you don’t ask, you’re fine
• If you’re still showing up, pay must be acceptable

Hard work alone doesn’t guarantee raises. Visible progress does.

How to Put Yourself in Line for a Raise

You don’t need to demand or threaten, just be intentional.

Track What You’ve Improved

Keep note of:

• New tasks you handle solo
• Certifications earned
• Reduced callbacks or mistakes
• Jobs completed faster or cleaner

This gives you real leverage.

Ask at the Right Time

The best moments:

• After finishing a major project successfully
• When taking on new responsibilities
• During review periods or workload increases

Avoid asking during slow seasons or company stress unless your role clearly expanded.

Frame It Professionally

Instead of “I need more money,” try:

• “I’ve taken on more responsibility since my last raise.”
• “I’m handling X and Y independently now.”
• “What do I need to hit to move to the next pay level?”

Good employers respect that approach.

What This Looks Like Across Different Trades

Instead of “I need more money,” try:

• Electricians: Raises often follow license levels, code knowledge, and job leadership
• HVAC Techs: Service diagnostics and customer-facing skills speed up promotions
• Plumbers: Efficiency, fewer callbacks, and job planning matter
• Welders: Certifications and consistency open higher-pay opportunities

Different trades, same principle: value first, money follows.

In the skilled trades, raises and promotions don’t usually come from waiting, they come from showing growth and speaking up at the right time.

If you treat your trade like a long-term career instead of just a job, you’ll find that pay increases tend to follow faster than you expect.

The workers who earn the most aren’t always the ones who work the hardest—they’re the ones who understand how the system actually works.