Families / craft

Craft

Work judged by the object made and the tolerance held.

• Welder / Fabricator

  site · $48k–$95k · 3y to competence · no licence

  Joins and shapes metal to specification, from structural steel to pressure vessels. Certifications gate the higher-paid work.

• CNC Machinist

  site · $50k–$95k · 4y to competence · no licence

  Programs and runs machines that cut parts to thousandths of an inch. Tolerance, fixturing and tooling knowledge compound for decades.

• Finish Carpenter

  site · $48k–$105k · 5y to competence · no licence

  Builds stairs, cabinetry, trim and built-ins where the tolerance is visible to the eye. Reputation travels by photograph and referral.

• Furniture Maker

  studio · $38k–$95k · 7y to competence · no licence

  Designs and builds commissioned pieces in wood and mixed materials. The work is slow, the market is small, the mastery is legible.

• Luthier

  studio · $34k–$85k · 8y to competence · no licence

  Builds and repairs stringed instruments for players who can hear the difference. Repair pays the rent; building builds the name.

• Goldsmith / Jeweller

  studio · $40k–$95k · 6y to competence · no licence

  Fabricates and repairs fine metalwork and setting. Custom commissions carry margin; bench repair carries steady volume.

• Tailor / Patternmaker

  studio · $36k–$85k · 6y to competence · no licence

  Cuts, fits and constructs garments to a body rather than a size chart. Alterations fund the practice; bespoke defines it.

• Stonemason

  site · $45k–$85k · 5y to competence · no licence

  Cuts and sets stone for building, restoration and monuments. Heritage restoration is the durable end of the trade.

• Artisan Baker

  kitchen · $38k–$72k · 4y to competence · no licence

  Runs fermentation and ovens to a daily rhythm. The work rewards process discipline more than invention.

• Literary Translator

  desk · $32k–$75k · 8y to competence · no licence

  Carries meaning and voice between languages at book length. Deep, slow work with an unforgiving rate card.

• Barber / Stylist

  studio · $40k–$90k · 3y to competence · licence required

  Cuts hair on a chair you eventually own or rent. Regulars are the asset and they follow the person, not the shop.

• Watchmaker

  studio · $55k–$110k · 5y to competence · no licence

  Services and restores mechanical movements to running tolerance. Trained numbers are tiny against the repair backlog.

• Boatbuilder

  site · $42k–$85k · 6y to competence · no licence

  Builds and repairs hulls in wood and composite to survive water. Refit work carries the yard between new builds.