Trade pay by city: 25 US metros compared

The same trade pays differently in different cities. Compare all 10 skilled trades in each metro — figures from BLS OEWS May 2025.

New York, NY

Trade medians: $21.89–$37.99/hr

Best-paid trade here: Electricians at $37.99/hr

$37.99 Electricians $37.79 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $37.50 HVAC Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Los Angeles, CA

Trade medians: $21.46–$36.41/hr

Best-paid trade here: Carpenters at $36.41/hr

$36.41 Carpenters $35.49 Electricians $35.49 HVAC Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Chicago, IL

Trade medians: $21.77–$49.70/hr

Best-paid trade here: Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters at $49.70/hr

$49.70 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $49.21 Electricians $39.47 Roofers

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

Trade medians: $18.12–$29.45/hr

Best-paid trade here: Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters at $29.45/hr

$29.45 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $28.63 HVAC Technicians $28.37 Electricians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Houston, TX

Trade medians: $17.44–$29.47/hr

Best-paid trade here: Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters at $29.47/hr

$29.47 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $28.45 Electricians $28.34 HVAC Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Atlanta, GA

Trade medians: $18.51–$28.35/hr

Best-paid trade here: HVAC Technicians at $28.35/hr

$28.35 HVAC Technicians $28.20 Electricians $28.07 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Washington, DC

Trade medians: $20.53–$36.50/hr

Best-paid trade here: Electricians at $36.50/hr

$36.50 Electricians $34.58 HVAC Technicians $34.55 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Philadelphia, PA

Trade medians: $20.26–$35.99/hr

Best-paid trade here: Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters at $35.99/hr

$35.99 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $35.86 Electricians $31.05 HVAC Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Phoenix, AZ

Trade medians: $18.82–$30.65/hr

Best-paid trade here: Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters at $30.65/hr

$30.65 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $29.43 Electricians $29.41 HVAC Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Miami, FL

Trade medians: $17.99–$28.19/hr

Best-paid trade here: Electricians at $28.19/hr

$28.19 Electricians $27.90 HVAC Technicians $27.77 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Boston, MA

Trade medians: $23.57–$46.52/hr

Best-paid trade here: Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters at $46.52/hr

$46.52 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $38.42 Electricians $37.75 HVAC Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

San Francisco, CA

Trade medians: $23.10–$44.63/hr

Best-paid trade here: Electricians at $44.63/hr

$44.63 Electricians $42.89 Carpenters $37.73 HVAC Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Detroit, MI

Trade medians: $18.67–$41.53/hr

Best-paid trade here: Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters at $41.53/hr

$41.53 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $39.42 Electricians $31.64 Carpenters

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Seattle, WA

Trade medians: $23.31–$48.93/hr

Best-paid trade here: Electricians at $48.93/hr

$48.93 Electricians $45.78 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $38.51 HVAC Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Minneapolis, MN

Trade medians: $22.67–$48.86/hr

Best-paid trade here: Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters at $48.86/hr

$48.86 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $39.37 Electricians $37.25 HVAC Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

San Diego, CA

Trade medians: $21.90–$36.62/hr

Best-paid trade here: Electricians at $36.62/hr

$36.62 Electricians $36.00 HVAC Technicians $35.19 Carpenters

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Tampa, FL

Trade medians: $17.89–$27.62/hr

Best-paid trade here: Electricians at $27.62/hr

$27.62 Electricians $25.06 Carpenters $25.00 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Denver, CO

Trade medians: $22.25–$34.41/hr

Best-paid trade here: HVAC Technicians at $34.41/hr

$34.41 HVAC Technicians $31.21 Carpenters $30.72 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Baltimore, MD

Trade medians: $19.05–$31.54/hr

Best-paid trade here: Electricians at $31.54/hr

$31.54 Electricians $30.38 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $30.38 HVAC Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

St. Louis, MO

Trade medians: $18.77–$37.10/hr

Best-paid trade here: Electricians at $37.10/hr

$37.10 Electricians $37.02 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $34.13 Carpenters

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Orlando, FL

Trade medians: $17.46–$26.62/hr

Best-paid trade here: Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters at $26.62/hr

$26.62 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $24.74 HVAC Technicians $24.43 Electricians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Charlotte, NC

Trade medians: $18.57–$28.77/hr

Best-paid trade here: HVAC Technicians at $28.77/hr

$28.77 HVAC Technicians $28.41 Electricians $28.22 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

San Antonio, TX

Trade medians: $17.13–$28.17/hr

Best-paid trade here: HVAC Technicians at $28.17/hr

$28.17 HVAC Technicians $27.97 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $27.41 Electricians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Portland, OR

Trade medians: $22.33–$50.53/hr

Best-paid trade here: Electricians at $50.53/hr

$50.53 Electricians $48.56 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $35.44 Carpenters

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

Sacramento, CA

Trade medians: $21.69–$35.98/hr

Best-paid trade here: Electricians at $35.98/hr

$35.98 Electricians $35.79 Carpenters $34.63 Automotive Service Technicians

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025