---
title: "Free Trades Data API (JSON) | HighPayingTrades"
canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/api/
description: "Free JSON API: BLS wage distributions, O*NET codes, pay groups and listed training programs for skilled trades. CORS enabled; CC BY 4.0."
updated: 2026-11-03
wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15"
---

1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/)
2. Data API

# Data API

All data on this site is available as JSON, free, with CORS enabled (`Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *`). Please attribute “HighPayingTrades.com” and the original sources (BLS, O\*NET, DOL, NCES IPEDS, College Scorecard). Data refreshed 2026-11-03.

## Endpoints

| Endpoint | Returns |
| --- | --- |
| [`GET /api/trades.json`](https://highpayingtrades.com/api/trades.json) | All listed trades with SOC/O\*NET codes, national wage distribution, pay fields `mean_annual` (average pay, all experience levels; not starting pay), `median_annual`, `pct10_annual` (entry-level / bottom 10%) and `pct90_annual`, pay group (`mean_65k`) and program counts, plus source metadata and `field_descriptions`. |
| [`GET /api/trades/[trade].json`](https://highpayingtrades.com/api/trades/elevator-mechanic.json) | One trade: national, state and metro wages, O\*NET summary, tuition summary and state page URLs. |
| [`GET /api/programs?trade=&state=&city=`](https://highpayingtrades.com/api/programs?trade=elevator-mechanic&state=TX) | Listed programs filtered by trade slug, two-letter state and/or city name. Up to 500 rows per call; use `offset` to page. |

## Trade slugs

`elevator-mechanic`, `lineworker`, `process-operator`, `aircraft-mechanic`, `electrical-engineering-technician`, `industrial-automation-technician`, `industrial-electronics-technician`, `pipefitter`, `crane-operator`, `electrician`, `operating-engineer`

## Example

```
curl https://highpayingtrades.com/api/trades/elevator-mechanic.json

{
 "trade": "elevator-mechanic",
 "soc": "47-4021",
 "national": {
  "mean_annual": 109820,
  "median_annual": 109910,
  "pct10_annual": 59270,
  "pct90_annual": 158890,
  "tot_emp": 23790
 }
}
```

## Field notes

- Wages are annual U.S. dollars from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. `top_coded` means BLS reports the value as at or above its top code.
- `tuition` is `null` unless College Scorecard publishes a figure; `tuition.label` says what the figure is.
- `source` is `ipeds` or `dol_oa`. `completions_2023_24` is the IPEDS count of first-major awards (graduates) in that program for July 2023 to June 2024; `null` for apprenticeship sponsors.

## CSV downloads

- [`/data/trades.csv`](https://highpayingtrades.com/data/trades.csv): one row per listed trade with SOC, O\*NET, average (mean), median, entry-level / bottom 10%, top 10% and program counts.
- [`/data/programs.csv`](https://highpayingtrades.com/data/programs.csv): every listed program with provider, location, CIP, graduates 2023-24, tuition and source.

---
Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/api/
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.