Trades & Labor Careers & Salaries

Explore salary data for 19 careers in trades & labor. The average median salary in this field is $54,566 per year, with 6,812,800 professionals employed nationwide.

Careers

Avg Median Salary

$54,566

Highest Paying

$97,860

Total Employed

6,812,800

All Trades & Labor Careers Ranked by Salary

Career	Median Salary	Entry Level	Growth
#1 Elevator Installer High school diploma + apprenticeship	$97,860	$60,000	+3%	Details →
#2 Pile Driver Operator High school diploma	$72,850	$45,000	+8%	Details →
#3 Electrician High school diploma + apprenticeship	$60,240	$35,000	+6%	Details →
#4 Plumber High school diploma + apprenticeship	$59,880	$34,000	+2%	Details →
#5 Ironworker High school diploma + apprenticeship	$57,500	$38,000	+4%	Details →
#6 Wind Turbine Technician Postsecondary nondegree award	$57,320	$42,000	+45%	Details →
#7 Sheet Metal Worker High school diploma + apprenticeship	$55,350	$36,000	+1%	Details →
#8 Heavy Equipment Operator High school diploma	$52,540	$36,000	+4%	Details →
#9 Carpenter High school diploma	$51,390	$32,000	+2%	Details →
#10 HVAC Technician Postsecondary nondegree award	$51,390	$32,000	+5%	Details →
#11 Truck Driver Postsecondary nondegree award	$49,920	$35,000	+4%	Details →
#12 Machinist High school diploma	$48,870	$34,000	+4%	Details →
#13 Insulation Worker High school diploma	$48,680	$34,000	+4%	Details →
#14 Solar Installer High school diploma	$47,670	$34,000	+22%	Details →
#15 Roofer High school diploma	$47,110	$32,000	+2%	Details →
#16 Welder High school diploma	$47,010	$32,000	+2%	Details →
#17 Locksmith High school diploma	$46,200	$30,000	+6%	Details →
#18 Painter High school diploma	$44,700	$31,000	+5%	Details →
#19 Pest Control Technician High school diploma	$40,280	$30,000	+8%	Details →

Explore Trades & Labor Careers

Elevator Installer

$97,860 median

Elevator installers and repairers install, fix, and maintain elevators, escalators, and other lifting equipment in buildings.

High school diploma + apprenticeship +3% growth

Pile Driver Operator

$72,850 median

Pile driver operators use machines to drive piles into earth to provide foundational support for buildings and structures.

High school diploma +8% growth

Electrician

$60,240 median

Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in residential, commercial, and industrial settings, ensuring safe and code-compliant wiring and power distribution.

High school diploma + apprenticeship +6% growth

Plumber

$59,880 median

Plumbers install, repair, and maintain plumbing systems including pipes, fixtures, and appliances in residential and commercial buildings.

High school diploma + apprenticeship +2% growth

Ironworker

$57,500 median

Ironworkers install structural steel to form buildings, bridges, and other structures.

High school diploma + apprenticeship +4% growth

Wind Turbine Technician

$57,320 median

Wind turbine technicians install, maintain, and repair wind turbines, working at great heights to service the growing renewable energy sector.

Postsecondary nondegree award +45% growth

Sheet Metal Worker

$55,350 median

Sheet metal workers fabricate, install, and maintain thin metal products for HVAC, roofing, and industrial applications.

High school diploma + apprenticeship +1% growth

Heavy Equipment Operator

$52,540 median

Heavy equipment operators drive construction and mining equipment including bulldozers, excavators, and cranes.

High school diploma +4% growth

Carpenter

$51,390 median

Carpenters construct, install, and repair structures and frameworks made of wood and other materials, working on residential and commercial building projects.

High school diploma +2% growth

HVAC Technician

$51,390 median

HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems in homes and commercial buildings.

Postsecondary nondegree award +5% growth

Truck Driver

$49,920 median

Truck drivers transport goods and materials over local and long-distance routes using heavy trucks and tractor-trailers, ensuring timely and safe delivery.

Postsecondary nondegree award +4% growth

Machinist

$48,870 median

Machinists use machine tools to produce precision metal parts, operating lathes, milling machines, and CNC equipment.

High school diploma +4% growth

Insulation Worker

$48,680 median

Insulation workers install and replace insulation materials in buildings, mechanical systems, and industrial equipment.

High school diploma +4% growth

Solar Installer

$47,670 median

Solar installers assemble, install, and maintain solar panel systems on rooftops and other structures for renewable energy generation.

High school diploma +22% growth

Roofer

$47,110 median

Roofers install, repair, and maintain roofs using shingles, metal, tile, and other materials.

High school diploma +2% growth

Welder

$47,010 median

Welders join metal parts using various welding techniques. They work in manufacturing, construction, and repair, reading blueprints and operating welding equipment.

High school diploma +2% growth

Locksmith

$46,200 median

Locksmiths install, repair, and adjust locks and security devices, helping people gain entry when locked out and improving building security.

High school diploma +6% growth

Painter

$44,700 median

Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls, buildings, and structures.

High school diploma +5% growth

Pest Control Technician

$40,280 median

Pest control technicians inspect buildings for pests and apply treatments to eliminate infestations of insects, rodents, and other organisms.

High school diploma +8% growth

About Trades & Labor Careers

The trades & labor field includes 19 careers tracked by StateSalaryData, employing 6,812,800 professionals across the United States. Salaries range from $40,280 (Pest Control Technician) to $97,860 (Elevator Installer). Browse individual career pages for state-by-state breakdowns, city-level data, and career comparisons.