Highest Paying Trade Jobs Ranked by BLS Median Pay (2026)
Electrical power-line installers and repairers had the highest median annual wage of the 15 trade jobs on this list, $95,320 in May 2025, followed by aircraft mechanics at $79,870 and construction and building inspectors at $74,690. This list ranks 15 skilled trades by BLS median annual wage (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025) among occupations College-Reporter covers with program or career guides. Growth and openings come from BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34. The ranking is by pay only; a trade lower in the table can still have far more openings each year than one higher up.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ranking criterion | BLS median annual wage, May 2025 |
| Occupations ranked | 15 trades with a College-Reporter program or career guide |
| Highest median on the list | Electrical power-line installers and repairers, $95,320 |
| Most openings per year | Electricians, about 81,000 |
| Strongest projected growth | Wind turbine service technicians, 49.9 percent |
The Ranking
| Rank | Occupation | BLS median (May 2025) | Growth 2024-34 | Openings/yr | Typical entry route |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers | $95,320 | 6.6 percent | about 10,700 | Apprenticeship |
| 2 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $79,870 | 4.0 percent | about 11,300 | Certificate (FAA-approved program) |
| 3 | Construction and building inspectors | $74,690 | -0.8 percent | about 14,800 | Trade experience plus certificate |
| 4 | Industrial machinery mechanics | $64,520 | 16.1 percent | about 45,700 | Certificate or on-the-job training |
| 5 | Wind turbine service technicians | $64,120 | 49.9 percent | about 2,300 | Certificate |
| 6 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | $63,800 | 4.5 percent | about 44,000 | Apprenticeship |
| 7 | Electricians | $63,190 | 9.5 percent | about 81,000 | Apprenticeship |
| 8 | Structural iron and steel workers | $62,780 | 4.4 percent | about 5,500 | Apprenticeship |
| 9 | Sheet metal workers | $61,800 | 2.4 percent | about 10,600 | Apprenticeship |
| 10 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $61,770 | 2.4 percent | about 26,500 | Certificate or associate degree |
| 11 | HVAC mechanics and installers | $61,010 | 8.1 percent | about 40,100 | Certificate or apprenticeship |
| 12 | Carpenters | $60,580 | 4.5 percent | about 74,100 | Apprenticeship |
| 13 | Operating engineers (heavy equipment operators) | $59,850 | 3.6 percent | about 41,900 | Apprenticeship or certificate |
| 14 | Machinists | $58,750 | 0.0 percent | about 29,500 | Apprenticeship or certificate |
| 15 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers | $53,750 | 2.2 percent | about 45,600 | Certificate |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (wages); BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 (growth and openings). Entry routes are the common paths, not the only ones; requirements vary by employer and state.
Each Trade in Brief
1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Line workers build and repair the high-voltage lines that carry electricity from generating plants to buildings. The work happens outdoors at height, often in bad weather and during storm restoration. Entry is usually a utility or contractor apprenticeship, sometimes preceded by a short pre-apprenticeship program. See the lineworker career guide.
2. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
Aircraft mechanics inspect, repair, and sign off on airframes, engines, and systems. Most enter through an FAA-approved maintenance technician program, commonly 18 to 24 months, and then sit for FAA certification exams. See the aircraft mechanic career guide.
3. Construction and building inspectors
Inspectors check that construction meets codes, zoning rules, and contract specifications. This is usually a second-stage trade role: employers commonly want years of experience in a building trade plus a certificate or code certification. The projected 2024-34 change is slightly negative, so openings come mainly from retirements. See home inspector programs and the building inspector career guide.
4. Industrial machinery mechanics
These mechanics keep factory and plant equipment running, from conveyors to packaging lines. Many start with a certificate in industrial maintenance or mechatronics and learn the rest on the job. Growth of 16.1 percent is among the stronger figures on this list. See maintenance technician programs and the millwright career guide.
5. Wind turbine service technicians
Wind techs climb towers to inspect and repair turbines. Projected growth of 49.9 percent is the highest here, but the occupation is small, so annual openings are only about 2,300. Entry is commonly a certificate program, often 12 to 24 months, varying by program. See wind turbine technician programs.
6. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Plumbers install and repair water, gas, and drainage systems; pipefitters and steamfitters work on industrial and high-pressure piping. Entry is typically a four- to five-year apprenticeship, and licensing requirements vary by state; check your state board. See plumbing programs and the plumber career guide.
7. Electricians
Electricians install and maintain wiring and electrical systems in homes, businesses, and industrial sites. With about 81,000 openings per year, this is the largest hiring pool on the list. The usual path is an apprenticeship, often preceded by a pre-apprenticeship or technical certificate. Licensing varies by state. See electrician programs and the electrician career guide.
8. Structural iron and steel workers
Ironworkers erect the steel frames of buildings and bridges and place reinforcing bar in concrete. The work is physically heavy and done at height. Entry is usually a union or contractor apprenticeship. See the ironworker career guide.
9. Sheet metal workers
Sheet metal workers fabricate and install ductwork, roofing, and metal building components. Apprenticeships are the standard route; some start with an HVAC or welding certificate. See the sheet metal worker career guide.
10. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
Diesel technicians service trucks, buses, and heavy equipment engines. Entry through a certificate or associate program is common, and ASE certification is widely used by employers. See the diesel technician career guide.
11. HVAC mechanics and installers
HVAC technicians install and service heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems. Many enter through a certificate program, often 6 to 12 months, then complete an apprenticeship or on-the-job training. EPA Section 608 certification is required to handle refrigerants. See HVAC programs and the HVAC technician career guide.
12. Carpenters
Carpenters frame buildings, install trim and cabinetry, and build concrete forms. About 74,100 openings per year make it the second-largest hiring pool here. Apprenticeships are common, though many learn on the job. See carpentry programs and the carpenter career guide.
13. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
Heavy equipment operators run excavators, cranes, graders, and loaders on construction sites. Entry is commonly an apprenticeship or a short operator training program. See the heavy equipment operator career guide.
14. Machinists
Machinists set up and run lathes, mills, and CNC equipment to make precision parts. Projected growth is flat at 0.0 percent, but about 29,500 openings per year come from workers retiring or leaving the occupation. Entry is a certificate, apprenticeship, or both. See CNC machinist programs and the machinist career guide.
15. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
Welders join metal parts in construction, manufacturing, and repair. Certificate programs are the usual entry point, and pay varies widely by process, industry, and travel. See welding programs and the welder career guide.
Pay and Job Outlook
The ranked table above carries the full figures. Three points are worth pulling out. First, the spread between the first and fifteenth entries is wide, but most of the middle of the list sits between the machinist median of $58,750 and the plumber median of $63,800. Second, high growth does not mean many jobs: wind turbine technicians have the highest growth rate but the fewest openings. Third, several of the largest hiring pools (electricians, carpenters, industrial machinery mechanics, plumbers, welders) sit in the middle of the pay ranking.
| Occupation | BLS median (May 2025) | Projected growth 2024-34 | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind turbine service technicians | $64,120 | 49.9 percent | about 2,300 |
| Industrial machinery mechanics | $64,520 | 16.1 percent | about 45,700 |
| Electricians | $63,190 | 9.5 percent | about 81,000 |
| HVAC mechanics and installers | $61,010 | 8.1 percent | about 40,100 |
Pay varies by employer, location, experience, and credentials; individual outcomes may vary. Union membership, overtime, travel work, and storm or shutdown assignments can move actual earnings well away from the median in either direction.
How We Ranked This
We started with the trades that College-Reporter covers with a program hub or career guide, matched each to its BLS Standard Occupational Classification code, and sorted by the May 2025 median annual wage from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. Growth and annual openings are from BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34. We did not weight growth, openings, or working conditions into the order; those are shown so you can apply your own priorities. Trades without a College-Reporter guide, such as elevator installers, are not included.
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FAQs
Which trade job pays the most?
Among the 15 trades on this list, electrical power-line installers and repairers had the highest BLS median annual wage in May 2025 at $95,320. Aircraft mechanics ($79,870) and construction and building inspectors ($74,690) were second and third.
Which trade has the most job openings?
Electricians, with about 81,000 openings per year projected by BLS for 2024-34, followed by carpenters at about 74,100 and industrial machinery mechanics at about 45,700.
Does a higher-paying trade take longer to enter?
Often, but not always. Line work and plumbing typically involve multi-year apprenticeships, and inspectors usually need years of prior trade experience. Wind turbine and HVAC technicians commonly start with a certificate program of roughly one to two years, varying by program.
Are these figures starting pay?
No. The BLS median is the midpoint of all workers in the occupation, including experienced ones. Apprentices and new hires usually earn less than the median, and the bottom tenth of earners in every trade here is well below it.
Why is construction inspector growth negative?
BLS projects a slight decline of 0.8 percent for 2024-34, but still estimates about 14,800 openings per year because of retirements and workers changing occupations. Openings, not growth, are the better guide to hiring in slow-growth trades.
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