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Skilled Trade Salary Comparison (2025)
Skilled trades continue to offer some of the most stable, high-demand, and well-paying careers in the U.S. With rising labor shortages and increased demand for infrastructure and clean energy, wages for licensed tradespeople are climbing year over year.
We compiled the latest 2025 wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and trade licensing boards across the country.
Below is a breakdown of median salaries for popular trades and what you can expect to earn as an apprentice, journeyman, or master-level technician.
2025 Skilled Trade Salary Table (U.S. Median)
| Trade | Entry-Level (P10) | Median (P50) | Top 10% (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pastry Chef | $36,000 | $39,168 | $96,030 |
| Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) | $47,960 | $62,340 | $80,510 |
| Dog Trainer | $29,120 | $38,750 | $70,800 |
| Culinary Chef | $36,000 | $39,168 | $96,030 |
| Automotive Technician | $33,660 | $49,670 | $80,850 |
| Wind Turbine Technician | $49,110 | $62,580 | $88,090 |
| Welder | $38,130 | $51,000 | $75,850 |
| Veterinary Technician | $32,120 | $45,980 | $60,880 |
| Veterinary Assistant | $29,160 | $37,320 | $48,150 |
| Truck Driver (CDL) | $38,640 | $57,440 | $78,800 |
| Tower Technician | $42,940 | $70,500 | $104,840 |
| Surgical Technologist | $43,290 | $62,830 | $90,700 |
| Sterile Processing Technician | $35,400 | $46,490 | $67,070 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $64,760 | $89,340 | $123,170 |
| Solar Installer | $39,070 | $51,860 | $80,150 |
| Radiologic Technologist | $52,360 | $77,660 | $106,990 |
| Plumber | $40,670 | $62,970 | $105,150 |
| Physical Therapy Aide | $24,960 | $34,520 | $46,930 |
| Phlebotomy Technician | $34,860 | $43,660 | $57,750 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $35,100 | $43,460 | $59,450 |
| Personal Trainer | $27,580 | $46,180 | $82,050 |
| Patient Care Technician | $31,390 | $39,530 | $50,140 |
| Paralegal | $39,710 | $61,010 | $98,990 |
| Optician | $34,470 | $46,560 | $73,240 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $49,070 | $68,340 | $86,930 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | $47,960 | $62,340 | $80,510 |
| Mold Inspector | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mental Health Technician | $32,980 | $42,590 | $60,150 |
| Medical Office Administrator | $35,050 | $44,640 | $60,050 |
| Medical Billing & Coding Specialist | $35,780 | $50,250 | $80,950 |
| Medical Assistant | $35,020 | $44,200 | $57,830 |
| Massage Therapist | $33,280 | $57,950 | $97,450 |
| Maintenance Technician | $33,860 | $48,620 | $76,110 |
| Lineworker | $50,020 | $92,560 | $126,610 |
| HVAC Technician | $39,130 | $59,810 | $91,020 |
| Home Health Aide | $25,600 | $34,900 | $44,190 |
| Home Inspector | $46,560 | $72,120 | $112,320 |
| Hemodialysis Technician | $37,290 | $48,790 | $81,290 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $40,080 | $58,710 | $100,690 |
| Gunsmith | $35,270 | $48,640 | $77,150 |
| Flooring Installer | $37,190 | $53,599 | $97,180 |
| Esthetician | $27,160 | $41,560 | $77,330 |
| Electrician | $39,430 | $62,350 | $106,030 |
| EKG Technician | $37,890 | $67,260 | $108,900 |
| Digital Court Reporter | $39,100 | $67,310 | $127,020 |
| Diesel Technician | $41,670 | $60,640 | $85,980 |
| Dental Assistant | $36,190 | $47,300 | $61,780 |
| Cosmetologist | $24,580 | $35,250 | $70,220 |
| Construction Worker | $34,200 | $46,730 | $77,530 |
| Construction Manager | $65,160 | $106,980 | $176,990 |
| CNC Machinist | $38,100 | $56,150 | $78,760 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $31,390 | $39,530 | $50,140 |
| Carpenter | $38,760 | $59,310 | $98,370 |
| Bookkeeper | $34,600 | $49,210 | $72,660 |
| Beauty Professional | $24,580 | $35,250 | $70,220 |
| Auto Mechanic | $33,660 | $49,670 | $80,850 |
| Aircraft Mechanic (A&P) | $47,790 | $78,680 | $120,080 |
Median salary data sources: TradeCareerPath BLS Careers dataset (OEWS national medians, 2025 release).
Salaries vary by state, specialization, union affiliation, and experience level. Licensed tradespeople with additional certifications or business ownership can exceed $100K+ annually.
Top-Paying States for Skilled Trades (2025)
Use the table below to compare every state's average median salary across electricians, HVAC technicians, and plumbers. Totals are sorted from highest to lowest average.
| State | Electrician Median | HVAC Median | Plumber Median | Average Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $73,450 | $50,920 | $61,480 | $61,950 |
| West Virginia | $63,850 | $46,040 | $49,630 | $53,173 |
| Wisconsin | $75,090 | $62,030 | $78,510 | $71,877 |
| Washington | $96,530 | $67,630 | $79,070 | $81,077 |
| Vermont | $59,670 | $60,170 | $60,550 | $60,130 |
| Virginia | $61,610 | $60,630 | $59,560 | $60,600 |
| Utah | $61,430 | $56,200 | $61,680 | $59,770 |
| Texas | $56,920 | $54,050 | $58,560 | $56,510 |
| Tennessee | $59,190 | $51,480 | $57,730 | $56,133 |
| South Dakota | $58,550 | $59,460 | $50,790 | $56,267 |
| South Carolina | $58,260 | $55,260 | $54,840 | $56,120 |
| Rhode Island | $70,160 | $63,580 | $64,630 | $66,123 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,400 | $61,120 | $66,650 | $64,390 |
| Oregon | $97,320 | $62,740 | $93,110 | $84,390 |
| Oklahoma | $60,050 | $50,920 | $54,840 | $55,270 |
| Ohio | $63,560 | $60,490 | $62,530 | $62,193 |
| New York | $77,460 | $66,670 | $78,460 | $74,197 |
| Nevada | $64,950 | $59,230 | $60,120 | $61,433 |
| New Mexico | $56,890 | $55,020 | $59,660 | $57,190 |
| New Jersey | $73,090 | $69,800 | $77,160 | $73,350 |
| New Hampshire | $61,990 | $64,410 | $62,030 | $62,810 |
| Nebraska | $60,020 | $59,690 | $62,880 | $60,863 |
| North Dakota | $65,820 | $66,770 | $62,670 | $65,087 |
| North Carolina | $54,070 | $51,940 | $50,990 | $52,333 |
| Montana | $68,980 | $58,600 | $77,930 | $68,503 |
| Mississippi | $57,300 | $47,270 | $57,960 | $54,177 |
| Missouri | $70,950 | $60,330 | $62,090 | $64,457 |
| Minnesota | $81,430 | $73,390 | $83,280 | $79,367 |
| Michigan | $72,680 | $60,090 | $77,030 | $69,933 |
| Maine | $67,820 | $62,130 | $61,890 | $63,947 |
| Maryland | $65,650 | $65,000 | $63,270 | $64,640 |
| Massachusetts | $82,120 | $76,990 | $83,260 | $80,790 |
| Louisiana | $59,590 | $53,510 | $64,720 | $59,273 |
| Kentucky | $59,490 | $58,880 | $62,370 | $60,247 |
| Kansas | $61,830 | $56,750 | $62,820 | $60,467 |
| Indiana | $65,480 | $60,310 | $64,560 | $63,450 |
| Illinois | $96,360 | $71,620 | $96,200 | $88,060 |
| Idaho | $60,670 | $52,730 | $57,380 | $56,927 |
| Iowa | $62,880 | $59,490 | $61,230 | $61,200 |
| Hawaii | $83,200 | $63,780 | $78,540 | $75,173 |
| Georgia | $58,860 | $55,020 | $56,290 | $56,723 |
| Florida | $53,100 | $50,580 | $50,540 | $51,407 |
| Delaware | $62,970 | $59,940 | $64,300 | $62,403 |
| District of Columbia | $81,950 | $83,390 | $81,950 | $82,430 |
| Connecticut | $76,790 | $73,910 | $73,080 | $74,593 |
| Colorado | $62,090 | $63,420 | $63,610 | $63,040 |
| California | $76,540 | $65,290 | $68,390 | $70,073 |
| Arizona | $59,480 | $56,580 | $61,940 | $59,333 |
| Arkansas | $49,420 | $47,240 | $49,700 | $48,787 |
| Alabama | $52,420 | $49,290 | $53,840 | $51,850 |
| Alaska | $81,860 | $83,660 | $83,090 | $82,870 |
Want to dive deeper? Click any linked state or browse the State Licensing Pages for local salary breakdowns and licensing steps.
Which Skilled Trades Make the Most in 2025?
Top earners in these trades consistently surpass six figures:
- Electrical Contractors (owning their business)
- HVAC Specialists (working in commercial systems or controls)
- Plumbing Contractors (with gas-fitting or medical gas certs)
- Welders (in pipeline, shipbuilding, or nuclear sectors)
- Solar Designers & Lead Installers (in high-growth markets)
If you're willing to specialize, relocate, or build your own business, the earning ceiling is even higher.
Want to Increase Your Earning Potential?
Here's how:
- Get licensed in a high-demand state
- Add special certifications (e.g., EPA 608, OSHA 30, medical gas)
- Join a union or work on prevailing wage projects
- Start your own contracting business
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