Which trade jobs pay well in Spain?

Despite Spain having the highest unemployment rate in the EU, there are still huge shortages of workers in many fields.

Traditional trades, referred to as oficios in Spanish, are no exception.

It's a trend being witnessed across much of the developed world, where skilled trade workers are in short supply and therefore in high demand.

In countries such as Australia, tradespeople are famed for earning considerably higher salaries than white-collar workers, and the Australian skilled-based migration system favours foreigners with these manual skills.

The Spanish government hasn't properly harnessed its migration strategy to bring in skilled labour of this kind, with many foreigners occupying instead vacancies in agriculture and hospitality. However, it has started adding trade jobs to its list of occupations that are difficult to cover, making it easier for non-EU nationals to get a work permit to live and work in Spain.

Overall, trade jobs may not pay as well as in other countries, but with little supply and lots of demand there is definitely growing negotiating power.

This is particularly true keeping in mind that Spain has a deficit of 600,000 homes according to the central bank. The country's National Construction Confederation (CNC) points to a shortage of 700,000 qualified professionals, from plumbers to builders and electricians, who will be needed to meet these construction targets.

Those willing to set up their own trade business in Spain may therefore be very surprised by how much work they can get.

In areas popular with other foreigners, many people have even set themselves up as English-speaking electricians or plumbers for example, catering to the foreign population.

READ ALSO: Why are Spain's new self-employed workers all foreign and what are their jobs?

People who are considering becoming a trade worker in Spain will usually have to complete a vocational training course known as formación profesional (FP).

According to Spain's Public Employment Service (SEPE), the job placement rate for job-seekers with an FP stood at 42.2 percent in 2024, 4 percent higher than for those with university degrees. But it's worth keeping in mind that vocational training courses aren't just for trade jobs.

READ ALSO: Is doing vocational training in Spain worth it?

The following is a breakdown of the average salaries for some of the most common trade jobs. In almost all cases, experience and the particular sector within the trade can also play a part in how high earnings can be.

Plumber (Fontanero)

Plumbers are essential trade professionals in Spain, just like in many countries, therefore there’s always a need for them. In 2025, the average salary of a plumber in Spain is around €1,580 net per month, equivalent to approximately €29,070 gross per year. This figure represents a 21 percent increase compared to the average national salary, making plumbing one of the highest-paid trade professions in the country.

Builder (Albañil)

Construction is one of the sectors in Spain that’s in need of the most labour, meaning there’s a lot of jobs here for builders. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy in 2024 for the first time in 23 years, the number of unemployed in the construction sector fell below 200,000. According to the job website Talent, the average salary for a builder in Spain is €23,000 per year. Or if you’re freelance, you could earn €20 to €30 per hour or €130 a day.

READ ALSO: Salaries close to the minimum wage are now the most common in Spain

Electrician (Electricista)

According to the Madrid Employment Portal, there is a shortage of electricians in Spain too, so this could be a good trade job to opt for. In fact, the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PINIEC), warned that the number of electricians would need to increase by more than 500,000 each year. According to data from the MEDAC institute and the Madrid Employment Portal, the average salary of an electrician in Spain is around €20,868 per year, which translates to around €1,739 per month. This is of course dependent on skill level and location.

Carpenter (Carpintero)

Carpenters play an important role in the construction industry in Spain as well as for renovations and furniture making, therefore there are often jobs available in this sector. The salary of a carpenter in Spain varies considerably depending on level of experience. An apprentice carpenter with less than three years of experience can expect to earn around €14,100 gross per year. Carpenters with between ten and twenty years of experience can expect an average gross salary of €25,300 per year. And if you have more than 20 years of experience, you earn up to €35,390 gross per year.

READ ALSO: Do English speakers still have an advantage in Spain's labour market?

Auto-mechanic (Mecánico)

An auto-mechanic is another profession in Spain which has a shortage of qualified professionals to meet the growing demand for repairs. The amount you can earn greatly depends on where in the country you’re based. According to the Jooble employment portal, in Madrid a mechanic receives an average annual salary of €25,980, although this can range between €16,356 and €36,492, depending on the company and experience. In Aragón for example a mechanic can earn up to €2,333 per month, while in the Canary Islands the average salary drops to €1,500 per month. The Talent website, on the other hand, estimates that a mechanic in Spain earns around €1,958 per month, with an annual average of €23,495, and can reach up to €32,500 in the best cases.

Painter and decorator (Pintor y decorador)

The average salary of a painter in Spain in 2025 is not great, approximately €17,790 gross per year, equivalent to approximately €9.93 net per hour. It's worth keeping in mind though that figure can vary considerably depending on experience and specialisation. For example, a painter with more than 20 years of experience can earn an average salary of €23,450 per year. An aeronautical painter can earn around €20,500 per year, which is 15 percent more than the average painter's salary. House painters earn an average salary of €19,700 per year, 11 percent above the average.

Locksmith (Cerrajero)

There always seem to be a lot of locksmiths in Spain for some reason and many advertising their services through stickers and leaflets too. According to Jooble, the average salary is much lower than other trade jobs in Spain around €17,160 per year. This can also change depending on the location.