GUIDE · UPDATED 2026-09-13
The highest-paying trades — ranked by what the government actually measures
In one paragraph
Most "highest paying trades" lists are guesses. This one is the May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational medians — the middle worker's actual wage, not a marketing number.The ranking (national median annual wage, May 2025 BLS OEWS)
| Trade | Median wage | Licensing reality |
|---|---|---|
| Elevator and escalator installers | $109,910 | Union-dominated apprenticeship entry; some states license separately |
| Electrical power-line installers | $95,320 | Utility/union apprenticeships; not board-licensed in most states |
| Construction trade supervisors | $79,920 | The step above journeyman — where trade careers compound |
| Boilermakers | $76,410 | Apprenticeship entry; small field |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters | $63,800 | State-licensed almost everywhere |
| Electricians | $63,190 | State-licensed in most states |
| Sheet metal workers | $61,800 | Apprenticeship entry; overlaps HVAC ductwork |
| HVAC mechanics and installers | $61,010 | Licensing varies wildly by state + federal EPA 608 |
| Carpenters | $60,580 | Rarely licensed as a trade; contractor rules apply |
| Operating engineers | $59,850 | Equipment certs; some state crane licensing |
| Oil and gas service operators | $58,160 | Unlicensed; boom-bust regional |
| Painters (construction) | $49,400 | Rarely licensed; low barrier = lower median |
How to read this list honestly
Notice the pattern: the top of the table is apprenticeship-gated, union-dense work (elevators, powerline), and the middle is the licensed trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC). That's not a coincidence — barriers to entry are what hold wages up. An elevator installer's $109,910 median exists because the International Union of Elevator Constructors apprenticeship is genuinely hard to get into; a painter's $49,400 median exists because almost anyone can start tomorrow.
For a career-switcher, the practical takeaway isn't "become an elevator installer" (openings are scarce). It's that the licensed trades are the accessible middle of the table: electrician, plumber and HVAC licensing paths are open in every state, published, and achievable in 3–5 years — and the license itself is the wage floor. Our Path Finder shows the exact route in your state.
State spread matters as much as the trade: the Illinois electrician median is far above the Florida one. Check your state's number in the Trades vs College calculator — it uses the same BLS state-level data.
FAQ
What's genuinely the highest-paying trade?
By May 2025 BLS medians: elevator and escalator installers at $109,910, then electrical power-line installers at $95,320. Both are apprenticeship-gated fields with limited openings — the accessible high-median trades are plumbing ($63,800), electrical ($63,190) and HVAC ($61,010).
Do these numbers include overtime and union scale?
The BLS median reflects actual reported wages including typical overtime, across union and non-union workers. Individual union scales in high-cost metros run well above these medians.
Why do licensed trades pay more than unlicensed ones?
Licensing is a supply constraint: 4,000–8,000 supervised hours plus an exam keeps the field from flooding. Compare the licensed trades' $61k–64k medians with painters at $49,400, where no license exists in most states.
Put it to work
See the verified requirements for your state and trade — hours, fees, exam, reciprocity.