HighestPaidProfession

Highest-paying trade jobs

The best-paid is nuclear power reactor operators, with a median of $122,890 a year. 5 of the 216 occupations here have a median of $100,000 or more. The median for all U.S. occupations is $50,980.

How this list is built. Occupations in three federal occupation groups — construction and extraction (SOC 47), installation, maintenance and repair (SOC 49) and production (SOC 51) — whose typical entry education is an associate’s degree or less. “Trades” has no official definition; this is ours, stated so you can check it.

Source BLS-OEWS · Period May 2025 · # = national rank shown on each page216 records · annual wages, USD
Highest-paying trade jobs, by median annual wage, May 2025
No.OccupationMedianTop 10% earn overTypical entryJobs 2025–35Employed
1Nuclear Power Reactor Operators$122,890$149,310High school-5.9%5,150
2Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers$109,910$158,890High school+5.7%23,790
3Power Distributors and Dispatchers$106,730$154,270High school+1.2%8,520
4Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$103,020$129,920Certificate+9.7%20,720
5Power Plant Operators$102,040$131,940High school-5.1%29,320
6Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$96,710$115,880High school-1.9%33,160
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$95,320$128,690High school+10.3%131,070
8Signal and Track Switch Repairers$92,460$119,550High school+1.8%8,720
9Gas Plant Operators$87,820$115,520High school-6.0%18,030
10Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment$84,890$116,810Certificate+5.4%6,940
11Avionics Technicians$82,280$113,680Certificate+9.4%18,830
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,920$128,260High school+5.0%812,210
13Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$79,870$128,890Certificate+5.4%138,090
14First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,860$126,790High school+4.1%617,500
15Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$78,620$125,390High school+3.1%28,250
16Roof Bolters, Mining$78,540$92,830High school-18.9%2,160
17Chemical Plant and System Operators$78,120$111,930High school-5.2%16,610
18Boilermakers$76,410$110,370High school-1.8%10,190
19Terrazzo Workers and Finishers$76,170$126,130High school-13.0%1,180
20Construction and Building Inspectors$74,690$114,200High school0.0%146,720
21Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$74,500$87,730No formal credential-15.8%5,930
22First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450$108,750High school+1.8%673,430
23Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$74,340$112,500High school+4.3%48,240
24Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$74,330$103,680High school-3.4%97,720
25Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$74,090$105,590Certificate+0.3%65,010
26Pile Driver Operators$73,300$124,600High school-5.7%2,310
27Commercial Divers$72,990$157,790Certificate+4.8%3,450
28Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other$70,130$85,010No formal credential-1.0%3,180
29Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators$70,070$87,420High school+1.5%19,580
30Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other$68,990$102,990High school+2.5%9,400
31Tapers$68,270$107,110No formal credential-1.6%12,840
32Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$68,120$100,320Certificate+5.9%28,500
33Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$67,890$101,860No formal credential+0.8%12,600
34Rail Car Repairers$67,530$95,100High school+2.6%21,350
35Watch and Clock Repairers$67,230$109,990High school-0.3%1,310
36Millwrights$65,700$93,600High school+0.9%40,330
37Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,510$94,460High school+6.7%176,600
38Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$65,380$107,500High school-5.6%34,020
39Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,520$95,170High school+17.8%439,640
40Wind Turbine Service Technicians$64,120$92,460Certificate+29.5%9,980
41Tool and Die Makers$64,050$92,680Certificate-9.2%56,930
42Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,890$96,730Certificate-3.3%140,920
43Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic$63,870$93,860High school-3.4%5,970
44Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,800$108,420High school+6.8%465,840
45Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers$63,520$103,990Associate+1.2%11,140
46Model Makers, Metal and Plastic$63,340$99,010High school-17.3%2,610
47Electricians$63,190$108,510High school+9.2%757,220
48Structural Iron and Steel Workers$62,780$108,260High school+3.1%68,380
49Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers$62,750$123,540High school-15.0%2,950
50Riggers$62,640$97,850High school+3.9%22,530
51Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters$62,620$78,270High school-6.1%250
52Plant and System Operators, All Other$62,470$94,560High school+2.3%14,080
53Brickmasons and Blockmasons$62,120$100,010High school+1.1%52,550
54Continuous Mining Machine Operators$61,810$86,210No formal credential+3.2%14,000
55Sheet Metal Workers$61,800$105,650High school+2.5%119,770
56Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,770$88,740High school+3.6%289,960
57Medical Equipment Repairers$61,660$98,280Associate+12.6%65,990
58Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$61,390$99,360High school0.0%5,100
59Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons$61,290$86,510High school-13.7%1,080
60Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,010$95,210Certificate+10.9%409,670
61Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,850$88,550High school-1.9%60,020
62Carpenters$60,580$99,910High school+3.9%670,090
63Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas$60,190$83,800High school+3.6%19,450
64Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,070$81,150High school+6.8%86,340
65Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,020$91,060High school-5.7%128,490
66Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850$101,090High school+4.6%478,090
67Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers$58,970$104,540High school-5.3%13,800
68Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$58,930$102,010No formal credential+2.5%83,080
69Machinists$58,750$80,010High school+1.0%287,050
70Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$58,620$81,800No formal credential+1.6%10,590
71Insulation Workers, Mechanical$58,340$100,220High school+5.1%25,660
72Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$58,160$97,560No formal credential+1.1%43,140
73Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$58,040$92,250High school+3.6%139,630
74Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic$58,000$82,590High school-22.8%1,470
75Plasterers and Stucco Masons$57,660$96,710No formal credential+2.8%19,310
76Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians$57,550$79,330High school+4.9%23,220
77Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$57,430$82,400High school+1.0%34,480
78Stonemasons$57,390$86,180High school-5.4%7,820
79Tire Builders$57,390$74,680High school+0.8%20,770
80Glaziers$57,080$89,790High school+1.9%58,480
81Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$57,020$85,480No formal credential+1.6%206,170
82Extraction Workers, All Other$57,010$82,160High school+3.4%5,540
83Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$56,550$78,740High school+10.7%37,870
84Model Makers, Wood$56,550$98,050High school-3.3%280
85Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$56,460$96,700No formal credential+9.0%23,640
86Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers$56,210$85,200High school+4.4%14,450
87Mechanical Door Repairers$55,720$78,260High school+6.4%27,120
88Tile and Stone Setters$55,690$86,110No formal credential+9.8%35,850
89Roofers$55,440$81,720No formal credential+5.3%135,490
90Automotive Body and Related Repairers$54,890$87,940High school+3.7%149,310
91Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$54,430$74,470High school-2.9%16,780
92Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750$77,530High school+2.4%416,210
93Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$53,710$77,750High school-17.0%34,000
94Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$53,340$92,230High school-0.9%41,820
95Solar Photovoltaic Installers$53,140$79,970High school+36.5%31,350
96Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,800$81,030High school-13.2%12,460
97Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers$52,720$83,940High school-15.5%1,650
98Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers$52,600$84,190Certificate+4.8%19,780
99Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$52,540$87,540High school-3.2%22,440
100Paperhangers$52,140$69,050No formal credential+4.3%1,570
101Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians$52,000$77,960High school+9.7%17,430
102Pourers and Casters, Metal$51,810$72,040High school-5.0%4,560
103Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,610$79,750High school-5.7%60,100
104Semiconductor Processing Technicians$51,430$82,540High school+8.2%31,460
105Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$51,330$72,280High school-6.2%52,360
106Locksmiths and Safe Repairers$51,320$79,400High school-11.7%15,040
107Home Appliance Repairers$50,990$80,660High school+1.9%32,150
108Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,690$73,890High school-9.4%169,450
109Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$50,620$81,790Certificate+5.0%704,640
110Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,620$69,700High school-11.3%16,710
111Floor Sanders and Finishers$50,440$70,340No formal credential+1.4%3,720
112Carpet Installers$50,340$82,140No formal credential-16.4%13,780
113Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,270$70,320High school-3.6%96,130
114Highway Maintenance Workers$50,260$71,970High school+3.4%154,960
115Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,140$70,310High school-8.3%25,250
116Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners$50,060$77,170High school-6.8%5,600
117Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$49,910$78,700High school+3.9%28,380
118Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$49,880$73,490High school+7.8%30,650
119Patternmakers, Wood$49,630$83,780High school-2.0%220
120Dental Laboratory Technicians$49,610$76,940High school-5.9%34,410
121Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$49,590$77,180High school+4.2%1,529,700
122Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$49,450$82,410High school+1.5%51,710
123Painters, Construction and Maintenance$49,400$78,810No formal credential+3.0%225,190
124Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$49,230$77,040High school+2.6%176,300
125Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$49,120$78,190No formal credential+2.4%44,440
126Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,080$68,410High school-9.5%4,680
127Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,030$68,720High school-17.2%8,930
128Pipelayers$49,000$80,170No formal credential-3.1%33,050
129Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,990$70,200High school-6.1%94,920
130Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,750$66,350High school-9.5%14,000
131Rock Splitters, Quarry$48,740$67,710No formal credential+5.8%3,320
132Prepress Technicians and Workers$48,690$66,080Certificate-15.3%23,840
133Motorcycle Mechanics$48,580$74,400Certificate+2.1%13,510
134Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570$77,860High school+2.5%597,370
135Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,540$69,240High school-1.7%26,000
136Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles$48,420$70,170High school-14.5%8,550
137Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,250$74,730High school+2.5%158,740
138Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$48,220$63,300High school-4.0%12,840
139Foundry Mold and Coremakers$48,110$62,640High school-23.0%12,790
140Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$48,040$69,800High school+2.6%14,280
141Medical Appliance Technicians$48,030$75,740High school+3.5%11,280
142Fence Erectors$47,980$70,010No formal credential+5.6%24,480
143Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,920$66,540High school-8.9%31,600
144Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$47,880$67,260High school+2.3%36,060
145Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$47,810$71,730Some college-3.0%65,600
146Helpers--Extraction Workers$47,730$68,020High school+1.7%6,700
147Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,720$63,710High school+0.7%60,840
148Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers$47,630$70,650High school+5.7%20,310
149Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters$47,550$70,080No formal credential-11.7%14,170
150Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers$47,450$66,370High school-3.4%26,410
151Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,180$74,450High school+0.6%124,590
152Construction Laborers$47,120$78,090No formal credential+7.3%1,096,780
153Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$46,960$64,530No formal credential+3.6%44,970
154Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators$46,880$63,760High school+4.6%16,170
155Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,680$63,720High school-2.9%77,170
156Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,570$61,120High school-0.9%44,980
157Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,550$62,600High school-10.8%67,000
158Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders$46,460$60,810High school+1.3%11,500
159Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners$46,420$71,600High school+1.9%5,380
160Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$46,350$63,910High school-3.3%12,850
161Upholsterers$46,340$63,770High school-2.3%20,140
162Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,330$65,510High school-10.5%171,200
163Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$46,170$61,530High school+5.8%33,190
164Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers$45,990$60,810High school+5.8%3,020
165Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$45,950$65,510High school-7.1%15,900
166Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850$62,950High school+5.0%246,970
167Printing Press Operators$45,780$63,520High school-8.7%144,260
168Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,760$63,450High school+1.5%58,770
169Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$44,810$62,680No formal credential+0.4%20,370
170Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650$64,880High school+1.1%1,405,030
171Furniture Finishers$44,540$61,020High school-3.5%14,480
172Woodworkers, All Other$44,530$64,150High school-2.3%5,490
173Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,350$61,600High school-3.4%150,470
174Helpers--Roofers$44,160$62,400No formal credential-0.1%6,030
175Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,960$60,370High school-9.7%32,410
176Helpers--Carpenters$43,780$57,670No formal credential-1.7%21,680
177Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$43,530$58,570High school+3.4%14,760
178Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43,380$56,830High school-2.5%61,420
179Etchers and Engravers$43,310$63,360High school-0.7%7,750
180Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220$60,030High school+4.1%379,060
181Bicycle Repairers$42,780$55,000High school-5.7%12,170
182Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$42,770$58,170High school-1.0%40,850
183Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other$42,670$60,080No formal credential-1.0%24,770
184Helpers--Electricians$42,670$58,340High school+0.6%63,630
185Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand$42,660$60,810No formal credential-19.2%10,510
186Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$42,360$57,780High school+2.4%44,330
187Food Batchmakers$42,290$58,940High school+6.5%174,520
188Print Binding and Finishing Workers$42,290$59,150High school-17.5%33,180
189Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers$41,640$63,670No formal credential-8.8%13,920
190Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers$41,600$60,820No formal credential+1.3%7,940
191Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$41,590$54,410High school-0.3%31,250
192Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders$41,330$62,340High school+5.9%6,900
193Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators$40,610$68,800High school-5.6%4,800
194Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons$40,470$52,000No formal credential+1.5%7,490
195Butchers and Meat Cutters$40,140$58,110No formal credential+2.4%136,430
196Slaughterers and Meat Packers$40,130$51,090No formal credential+2.0%69,950
197Production Workers, All Other$40,110$61,530High school+0.8%251,700
198Food Processing Workers, All Other$39,680$47,950No formal credential+5.5%65,000
199Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$39,630$55,890High school+5.3%95,580
200Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$39,530$49,130High school-13.7%13,030
201Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians$39,460$57,380High school+2.2%18,660
202Helpers--Production Workers$39,070$53,410High school-8.2%165,700
203Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$38,760$49,420High school-13.6%9,000
204Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$38,670$49,420High school-10.3%22,020
205Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$38,300$48,150No formal credential+5.7%145,700
206Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$38,180$48,100High school-12.5%5,310
207Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$38,020$57,870No formal credential-18.9%6,060
208Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers$37,800$52,550High school-6.5%7,450
209Tire Repairers and Changers$37,710$50,230High school+3.4%108,410
210Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$37,280$52,730High school-13.4%13,530
211Bakers$37,160$49,020No formal credential+5.5%236,200
212Sewing Machine Operators$36,670$47,840No formal credential-15.1%104,880
213Sewers, Hand$36,480$47,570No formal credential-12.0%2,190
214Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders$35,650$47,700High school-6.9%3,280
215Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials$35,060$43,050No formal credential-15.7%26,120
216Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$34,890$43,190No formal credential+4.3%198,040

“No.” is the position in this list. Each occupation page shows its rank among all occupations. Wages exclude the self-employed, overtime and non-production bonuses.

Other rankings