Career Atlas USA

Highest-Paying Trade Careers

“Trade” here means skilled hands-on occupations — construction and installation/repair (BLS major groups 47 and 49) — not commerce. Ranked by median annual wage. 111 careers total, page 1 of 3.

  1. 1Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers$109,910
  2. 2Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$103,020
  3. 3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$95,320
  4. 4Signal and Track Switch Repairers$92,460
  5. 5Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment$84,890
  6. 6Avionics Technicians$82,280
  7. 7First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,920
  8. 8Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$79,870
  9. 9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,860
  10. 10Roof Bolters, Mining$78,540
  11. 11Boilermakers$76,410
  12. 12Terrazzo Workers and Finishers$76,170
  13. 13Construction and Building Inspectors$74,690
  14. 14Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$74,500
  15. 15Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$74,340
  16. 16Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$74,330
  17. 17Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$74,090
  18. 18Pile Driver Operators$73,300
  19. 19Commercial Divers$72,990
  20. 20Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other$70,130
  21. 21Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators$70,070
  22. 22Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other$68,990
  23. 23Tapers$68,270
  24. 24Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$67,890
  25. 25Rail Car Repairers$67,530
  26. 26Watch and Clock Repairers$67,230
  27. 27Millwrights$65,700
  28. 28Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,510
  29. 29Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,520
  30. 30Wind Turbine Service Technicians$64,120
  31. 31Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,890
  32. 32Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,800
  33. 33Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers$63,520
  34. 34Electricians$63,190
  35. 35Structural Iron and Steel Workers$62,780
  36. 36Riggers$62,640
  37. 37Brickmasons and Blockmasons$62,120
  38. 38Continuous Mining Machine Operators$61,810
  39. 39Sheet Metal Workers$61,800
  40. 40Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,770
  41. 41Medical Equipment Repairers$61,660
  42. 42Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$61,390
  43. 43Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons$61,290
  44. 44Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,010
  45. 45Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,850
  46. 46Carpenters$60,580
  47. 47Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas$60,190
  48. 48Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,070
  49. 49Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850
  50. 50Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers$58,970