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Skilled trades ranked by pay
15 skilled trades, highest national median pay first, from the May 2025 BLS survey. The median is the point where half earn more and half earn less. Employment counts every wage-and-salary worker in the occupation across all industries.
| # | Trade | Median annual | Median hourly | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employed | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year | Best-paying state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How to become an elevator installer Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers (SOC 47-4021) | $109,910 | $52.84 | $59,270 | $158,890 | 23,790 | +5.7% | 1,900 | Maine |
| 2 | How to become a lineworker Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (SOC 49-9051) | $95,320 | $45.83 | $51,470 | $128,690 | 131,070 | +10.3% | 10,900 | Hawaii |
| 3 | How to become a plumber Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152) | $63,800 | $30.67 | $44,150 | $108,420 | 465,840 | +6.8% | 42,000 | District of Columbia |
| 4 | How to become an electrician Electricians (SOC 47-2111) | $63,190 | $30.38 | $42,640 | $108,510 | 757,220 | +9.2% | 72,700 | Oregon |
| 5 | How to become an ironworker Structural Iron and Steel Workers (SOC 47-2221) | $62,780 | $30.18 | $44,580 | $108,260 | 68,380 | +3.1% | 5,900 | Massachusetts |
| 6 | How to become a brickmason Brickmasons and Blockmasons (SOC 47-2021) | $62,120 | $29.87 | $44,820 | $100,010 | 52,550 | +1.1% | 4,100 | Minnesota |
| 7 | How to become a sheet metal worker Sheet Metal Workers (SOC 47-2211) | $61,800 | $29.71 | $38,630 | $105,650 | 119,770 | +2.5% | 9,800 | Washington |
| 8 | How to become a diesel mechanic Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (SOC 49-3031) | $61,770 | $29.70 | $44,530 | $88,740 | 289,960 | +3.6% | 24,400 | Hawaii |
| 9 | How to become an HVAC technician Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers (SOC 49-9021) | $61,010 | $29.33 | $40,050 | $95,210 | 409,670 | +10.9% | 40,600 | District of Columbia |
| 10 | How to become a carpenter Carpenters (SOC 47-2031) | $60,580 | $29.12 | $40,410 | $99,910 | 670,090 | +3.9% | 62,800 | Hawaii |
| 11 | How to become a heavy equipment operator Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2073) | $59,850 | $28.78 | $42,190 | $101,090 | 478,090 | +4.6% | 39,200 | Hawaii |
| 12 | How to become a machinist Machinists (SOC 51-4041) | $58,750 | $28.24 | $39,200 | $80,010 | 287,050 | +1% | 26,100 | Hawaii |
| 13 | How to become a truck driver Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (SOC 53-3032) | $58,640 | $28.19 | $40,140 | $79,380 | 2,062,040 | +3.8% | 214,500 | Alaska |
| 14 | How to become a welder Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (SOC 51-4121) | $53,750 | $25.84 | $39,240 | $77,530 | 416,210 | +2.4% | 40,300 | Alaska |
| 15 | How to become an auto mechanic Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (SOC 49-3023) | $50,620 | $24.34 | $34,660 | $81,790 | 704,640 | +5% | 66,200 | District of Columbia |
As files: pay by state, wherever BLS publishes it (CSV) · the ten-year outlook (CSV) · all files and how to credit them.
How to read this
The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the working range: a tenth of the workforce earns below the first figure and a tenth earns above the second. A wide gap usually means the trade has a long path from apprentice to journeyman, or strong regional differences, or both. Growth and openings are the BLS Employment Projections for 2025 to 2035; openings count growth plus the workers who leave. Open a trade for the steps in, how long the training takes and every state ranked; the state-licensed trades also carry each sourced state's license cost.