The Trade Economy Index · 2026 Edition

Every trade, scored

13 U.S. skilled trades, each scored on AI-Resilience and AI-Leverage and placed in one of four quadrants. Open any trade for its full data card: labor, market structure, economics, cash cycle, AI exposure, consolidation, tech stack, reputation, firmographics, and public-company comps.

Looking for what these businesses are worth? Every trade’s acquisition multiple, ranked with tier ladders and sources: what trade businesses sell for.

Transform & Win

HVAC & Refrigeration

82.3
Resilience 83.4 · Leverage 81.3 · Level vertical
$28.75/hr median wage7.43% net margin
Transform & Win

Fire & Life Safety

81.7
Resilience 83.4 · Leverage 79.9
$28.15/hr median wage3.6% net margin
Transform & Win

Electrical

80.2
Resilience 80.6 · Leverage 79.7 · Level vertical
$29.795/hr median wage
Safe Haven

Doors & Access

78.6
Resilience 79.4 · Leverage 77.7 · Level vertical
$27.09/hr median wage6.9% net margin
Safe Haven

Glass & Glazing

76.8
Resilience 76.8 · Leverage 76.9 · Level vertical
$25.61/hr median wage6.275% net margin
Race to Modernize

Restoration & Remediation

76.8
Resilience 70.5 · Leverage 83.1
$22.64/hr median wage6.3% net margin
Safe Haven

Plumbing

76.5
Resilience 79.9 · Leverage 73.1
$30.27/hr median wage
Race to Modernize

Low-Voltage & Security

76.3
Resilience 72.2 · Leverage 80.3
$29.98/hr median wage
Safe Haven

Concrete & Masonry

75.5
Resilience 75.7 · Leverage 75.3
$24.38/hr median wage
Race to Modernize

Landscaping & Grounds

74.9
Resilience 68.9 · Leverage 80.9 · Level vertical
$17.96/hr median wage2.4% net margin
Race to Modernize

Roofing

74.8
Resilience 68.5 · Leverage 81.1 · Level vertical
$24.51/hr median wage5.3% net margin
Race to Modernize

Commercial Cleaning & Janitorial

74
Resilience 68.6 · Leverage 79.5 · Level vertical
$16.84/hr median wage6.3% net margin
Under Pressure

Painting & Wall Finishing

69.3
Resilience 64.2 · Leverage 74.3 · Level vertical
$22.94/hr median wage