Skilled Trade Salary Comparison (2026)
Quick answer: Among the trades on this page, plumbers earn the highest median at $63,800, followed by electricians at $63,190 and HVAC technicians at $61,010 (BLS, May 2025). Pay rises with experience, certifications, union work, and business ownership, with top earners in these trades clearing $100,000 a year.
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 wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, May 2025) 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.
Skilled Trade Salary Table for 2026 (U.S. Median)
| Trade | Entry-Level (P10) | Median (P50) | Top 10% (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Manager | $69,690 | $114,990 | $189,440 |
| Digital Court Reporter | $42,130 | $72,420 | $130,560 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $67,820 | $96,590 | $129,370 |
| Aircraft Mechanic (A&P) | $48,780 | $79,870 | $128,890 |
| Lineworker | $51,470 | $95,320 | $128,690 |
| EKG Technician | $39,000 | $74,310 | $121,350 |
| Radiologic Technologist | $55,980 | $80,110 | $118,660 |
| Home Inspector | $47,140 | $74,690 | $114,200 |
| Electrician | $42,640 | $63,190 | $108,510 |
| Plumber | $44,150 | $63,800 | $108,420 |
| Tower Technician | $44,460 | $63,520 | $103,990 |
| Gunsmith | $40,140 | $68,990 | $102,990 |
| Paralegal | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $42,190 | $59,850 | $101,090 |
| Massage Therapist | $33,640 | $58,450 | $100,200 |
| Carpenter | $40,410 | $60,580 | $99,910 |
| Culinary Chef | $37,900 | $40,078 | $98,560 |
| Pastry Chef | $37,900 | $40,078 | $98,560 |
| Surgical Technologist | $45,940 | $64,650 | $96,940 |
| Flooring Installer | $37,600 | $55,641 | $96,700 |
| HVAC Technician | $40,050 | $61,010 | $95,210 |
| Wind Turbine Technician | $49,230 | $64,120 | $92,460 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $51,490 | $72,300 | $89,780 |
| Diesel Technician | $44,530 | $61,770 | $88,740 |
| Hemodialysis Technician | $38,180 | $50,290 | $85,270 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | $49,740 | $64,400 | $83,440 |
| Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) | $49,740 | $64,400 | $83,440 |
| Personal Trainer | $28,800 | $47,160 | $83,100 |
| Esthetician | $29,580 | $45,330 | $82,050 |
| Auto Mechanic | $34,660 | $50,620 | $81,790 |
| Automotive Technician | $34,660 | $50,620 | $81,790 |
| Medical Billing & Coding Specialist | $37,000 | $51,140 | $81,150 |
| CNC Machinist | $39,200 | $58,750 | $80,010 |
| Solar Installer | $41,600 | $53,140 | $79,970 |
| Truck Driver (CDL) | $40,140 | $58,640 | $79,380 |
| Construction Worker | $35,090 | $47,120 | $78,090 |
| Welder | $39,240 | $53,750 | $77,530 |
| Maintenance Technician | $35,350 | $49,590 | $77,180 |
| Optician | $35,610 | $47,260 | $76,750 |
| Dog Trainer | $29,600 | $39,990 | $75,490 |
| Bookkeeper | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
| Beauty Professional | $27,040 | $35,790 | $71,190 |
| Cosmetologist | $27,040 | $35,790 | $71,190 |
| Sterile Processing Technician | $36,410 | $47,700 | $69,950 |
| Veterinary Technician | $35,710 | $47,380 | $63,180 |
| Dental Assistant | $37,130 | $48,070 | $62,250 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $36,020 | $45,750 | $61,040 |
| Mental Health Technician | $35,090 | $45,130 | $60,750 |
| Medical Office Administrator | $35,930 | $45,930 | $60,530 |
| Medical Assistant | $36,050 | $45,690 | $59,310 |
| Phlebotomy Technician | $35,780 | $45,230 | $58,780 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $33,940 | $42,260 | $51,980 |
| Patient Care Technician | $33,940 | $42,260 | $51,980 |
| Veterinary Assistant | $30,120 | $38,150 | $49,150 |
| Physical Therapy Aide | $25,360 | $35,240 | $47,780 |
| Home Health Aide | $27,040 | $35,800 | $45,040 |
| Mold Inspector | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Median salary data sources: TradeCareerPath BLS Careers dataset (BLS OEWS national medians, May 2025).
Salaries vary by state, specialization, union affiliation, and experience level. For reference, electricians earn a median of $63,190, plumbers $63,800, and HVAC technicians $61,010 (BLS, May 2025). Licensed tradespeople with extra certifications or their own business can exceed $100,000 a year.
Top-Paying States for Skilled Trades (2026)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $99,560 | $77,410 | $99,950 | $92,307 |
| District of Columbia | $78,970 | $84,390 | $101,020 | $88,127 |
| Oregon | $101,310 | $62,940 | $97,050 | $87,100 |
| Alaska | $89,440 | $77,430 | $93,920 | $86,930 |
| Washington | $95,220 | $75,660 | $81,030 | $83,970 |
| Massachusetts | $79,420 | $77,300 | $93,880 | $83,533 |
| Minnesota | $78,160 | $76,350 | $94,410 | $82,973 |
| Hawaii | $96,460 | $65,450 | $78,060 | $79,990 |
| Connecticut | $77,540 | $76,610 | $77,280 | $77,143 |
| New York | $78,750 | $74,430 | $77,490 | $76,890 |
| New Jersey | $77,250 | $74,450 | $78,240 | $76,647 |
| California | $76,160 | $72,560 | $72,830 | $73,850 |
| Wisconsin | $76,540 | $61,710 | $81,210 | $73,153 |
| Rhode Island | $74,090 | $67,370 | $76,470 | $72,643 |
| Montana | $76,760 | $60,850 | $79,960 | $72,523 |
| Michigan | $76,270 | $60,850 | $80,190 | $72,437 |
| Maryland | $73,490 | $70,020 | $65,400 | $69,637 |
| Indiana | $68,490 | $60,430 | $76,320 | $68,413 |
| North Dakota | $65,710 | $74,490 | $63,560 | $67,920 |
| New Hampshire | $62,840 | $73,850 | $66,810 | $67,833 |
| Maine | $75,380 | $63,170 | $64,000 | $67,517 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,600 | $62,400 | $68,080 | $66,027 |
| Nevada | $73,570 | $60,510 | $61,610 | $65,230 |
| Wyoming | $76,120 | $54,700 | $62,410 | $64,410 |
| Missouri | $65,410 | $59,950 | $66,790 | $64,050 |
| Kansas | $65,860 | $60,460 | $65,220 | $63,847 |
| Delaware | $63,700 | $62,320 | $64,720 | $63,580 |
| Colorado | $62,230 | $65,200 | $63,240 | $63,557 |
| Ohio | $64,700 | $62,510 | $63,330 | $63,513 |
| Vermont | $63,430 | $62,150 | $62,170 | $62,583 |
| Iowa | $60,860 | $60,680 | $63,890 | $61,810 |
| Louisiana | $61,540 | $58,650 | $63,680 | $61,290 |
| Virginia | $62,900 | $59,730 | $60,470 | $61,033 |
| Utah | $62,000 | $58,730 | $61,900 | $60,877 |
| Arizona | $61,060 | $59,400 | $62,070 | $60,843 |
| Kentucky | $59,720 | $58,620 | $64,160 | $60,833 |
| Nebraska | $60,820 | $59,850 | $60,970 | $60,547 |
| Oklahoma | $61,010 | $57,560 | $57,970 | $58,847 |
| Texas | $58,570 | $57,760 | $59,840 | $58,723 |
| Tennessee | $61,090 | $55,490 | $58,600 | $58,393 |
| South Dakota | $61,390 | $61,390 | $51,620 | $58,133 |
| Georgia | $58,320 | $56,390 | $57,200 | $57,303 |
| Idaho | $63,000 | $56,240 | $52,380 | $57,207 |
| North Carolina | $56,800 | $57,260 | $57,080 | $57,047 |
| West Virginia | $64,810 | $48,850 | $56,980 | $56,880 |
| New Mexico | $58,390 | $50,270 | $61,440 | $56,700 |
| South Carolina | $58,740 | $56,610 | $53,940 | $56,430 |
| Florida | $57,250 | $56,670 | $52,910 | $55,610 |
| Mississippi | $60,860 | $48,680 | $55,480 | $55,007 |
| Alabama | $55,690 | $48,370 | $58,670 | $54,243 |
| Arkansas | $49,070 | $48,110 | $48,660 | $48,613 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
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 2026?
Some trades pay well above the median. Elevator mechanics earn a median of $109,910 and electrical line workers $95,320 (BLS, May 2025), among the highest of any trade that does not require a four-year degree.
Within the more common trades on this page, top earners regularly clear six figures by specializing or running their own business:
- 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 are willing to specialize, relocate, or build your own business, the earning ceiling is even higher. The top 10 percent of electricians earn above $108,510 and the top 10 percent of plumbers above $108,420 a year (BLS, May 2025).
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
Explore by Trade
Looking for detailed pay, licensing, and training info for a specific career?
Choose a trade below or visit our Trade School Guide to learn how to get started.
- Electrician Salary & Career Guide
- HVAC Technician Salary & Career Guide
- Plumber Salary & Career Guide
- Welder Salary & Career Guide
- Solar Technician Salary & Career Guide
- Mold Inspector Salary & Career Guide
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade career guide using BLS, DOL, and state licensing data. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.