Ranking · original analysis of BLS data
Highest-paying jobs in the trades
The 105 the trades occupations BLS publishes, ranked by national median pay, with the education each typically needs to enter.
Quick answer
The highest-paying the trades occupation is Elevator Mechanic, with a BLS national median of $109,910 a year (May 2025). 2 of the 105 the trades occupations BLS publishes have a median of $100,000 or more; the best-paid one that typically needs less than a bachelor's degree is Elevator Mechanic ($109,910).
The ranking
40 best-paid of 105 occupations
Data BLS OEWS May 2025 national median annual wages.
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Median hourly | Typical entry-level education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator Mechanic | $109,910 | $52.84 | High school diploma | 23,790 |
| 2 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | $103,020 | $49.53 | Postsecondary certificate | 20,720 |
| 3 | Lineman | $95,320 | $45.83 | High school diploma | 131,070 |
| 4 | Signal and Track Switch Repairers | $92,460 | $44.45 | High school diploma | 8,720 |
| 5 | Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | $84,890 | $40.81 | Postsecondary certificate | 6,940 |
| 6 | Avionics Technician | $82,280 | $39.56 | Postsecondary certificate | 18,830 |
| 7 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,920 | $38.42 | High school diploma | 812,210 |
| 8 | Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 | $38.40 | Postsecondary certificate | 138,090 |
| 9 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $79,860 | $38.39 | High school diploma | 617,500 |
| 10 | Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,540 | $37.76 | High school diploma | 2,160 |
| 11 | Boilermaker | $76,410 | $36.74 | High school diploma | 10,190 |
| 12 | Terrazzo Workers and Finishers | $76,170 | $36.62 | High school diploma | 1,180 |
| 13 | Home Inspector | $74,690 | $35.91 | High school diploma | 146,720 |
| 14 | Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining | $74,500 | $35.82 | No formal credential | 5,930 |
| 15 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | $74,340 | $35.74 | High school diploma | 48,240 |
| 16 | Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | $74,330 | $35.73 | High school diploma | 97,720 |
| 17 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | $74,090 | $35.62 | Postsecondary certificate | 65,010 |
| 18 | Pile Driver Operators | $73,300 | $35.24 | High school diploma | 2,310 |
| 19 | Commercial Diver | $72,990 | $35.09 | Postsecondary certificate | 3,450 |
| 20 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | $70,070 | $33.69 | High school diploma | 19,580 |
| 21 | Tapers | $68,270 | $32.82 | No formal credential | 12,840 |
| 22 | Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | $67,890 | $32.64 | No formal credential | 12,600 |
| 23 | Rail Car Repairers | $67,530 | $32.46 | High school diploma | 21,350 |
| 24 | Watch and Clock Repairers | $67,230 | $32.32 | High school diploma | 1,310 |
| 25 | Millwrights | $65,700 | $31.59 | High school diploma | 40,330 |
| 26 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $65,510 | $31.50 | High school diploma | 176,600 |
| 27 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | $64,520 | $31.02 | High school diploma | 439,640 |
| 28 | Wind Turbine Technician | $64,120 | $30.83 | Postsecondary certificate | 9,980 |
| 29 | Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | $63,890 | $30.72 | Postsecondary certificate | 140,920 |
| 30 | Plumber | $63,800 | $30.67 | High school diploma | 465,840 |
| 31 | Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers | $63,520 | $30.54 | Associate's degree | 11,140 |
| 32 | Electrician | $63,190 | $30.38 | High school diploma | 757,220 |
| 33 | Ironworker | $62,780 | $30.18 | High school diploma | 68,380 |
| 34 | Rigger | $62,640 | $30.12 | High school diploma | 22,530 |
| 35 | Mason | $62,120 | $29.87 | High school diploma | 52,550 |
| 36 | Continuous Mining Machine Operators | $61,810 | $29.72 | No formal credential | 14,000 |
| 37 | Sheet Metal Worker | $61,800 | $29.71 | High school diploma | 119,770 |
| 38 | Diesel Mechanic | $61,770 | $29.70 | High school diploma | 289,960 |
| 39 | Medical Equipment Repairers | $61,660 | $29.64 | Associate's degree | 65,990 |
| 40 | Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters | $61,390 | $29.51 | High school diploma | 5,100 |
Without a four-year degree
Best-paid the trades jobs that typically need less than a bachelor’s degree
Data Typical entry-level education from BLS Employment Projections: no formal credential, high school, some college, a postsecondary certificate or an associate degree.
| # | Occupation | Median annual | Typical entry-level education | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator Mechanic | $109,910 | High school diploma | 23,790 |
| 2 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | $103,020 | Postsecondary certificate | 20,720 |
| 3 | Lineman | $95,320 | High school diploma | 131,070 |
| 4 | Signal and Track Switch Repairers | $92,460 | High school diploma | 8,720 |
| 5 | Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment | $84,890 | Postsecondary certificate | 6,940 |
| 6 | Avionics Technician | $82,280 | Postsecondary certificate | 18,830 |
| 7 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,920 | High school diploma | 812,210 |
| 8 | Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 | Postsecondary certificate | 138,090 |
| 9 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $79,860 | High school diploma | 617,500 |
| 10 | Roof Bolters, Mining | $78,540 | High school diploma | 2,160 |
Context
Pay versus size
Data The largest the trades occupation by employment is Maintenance Technician (1,529,700 employed, median $49,590). The median of the 105 occupation medians is not a BLS figure and is not shown; each row is the occupation's own BLS median.
Method
How this page is built
Occupations in BLS construction and extraction occupations (SOC 47-0000) and installation, maintenance and repair occupations (SOC 49-0000), ranked by BLS national median annual wage (OEWS May 2025); BLS residual “all other” categories are left out. Education is the BLS typical entry-level education, not a legal requirement.
What this page can't tell you
Sources- Pay at a specific employer or in your state.
- Starting pay: medians include experienced workers.
- Which job fits your goals: pay is one factor among many.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025–35 (released Aug 27, 2026; public domain): typical entry-level education, work experience, on-the-job training, projected change and annual openings.
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