In short
The highest-paying trades in the May 2025 BLS data include elevator and escalator installers, powerhouse and substation repairers, and electrical power line installers. Electricians earn a median of $63,190 and plumbers $63,800. Most top trades are learned through an apprenticeship that pays you while you train, which takes several years.
The ranking
| # | Job | Median pay | Typical way in | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers (BLS) | $109,910 | High school or GED | 5.7% | 1,900 |
| 2 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay (BLS) | $103,020 | Certificate | 9.7% | 1,800 |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers (BLS) | $95,320 | High school or GED | 10.3% | 10,900 |
| 4 | Signal and track switch repairers | $92,460 | High school or GED | 1.8% | 800 |
| 5 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment (BLS) | $84,890 | Certificate | 5.4% | 500 |
| 6 | Avionics technicians (BLS) | $82,280 | Certificate | 9.4% | 1,700 |
| 7 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians (BLS) | $79,870 | Certificate | 5.4% | 11,400 |
| 8 | Roof bolters, mining | $78,540 | High school or GED | a decline of 18.9% | 100 |
| 9 | Boilermakers (BLS) | $76,410 | High school or GED | a decline of 1.8% | 700 |
| 10 | Terrazzo workers and finishers (BLS) | $76,170 | High school or GED | a decline of 13% | 100 |
| 11 | Construction and building inspectors (BLS) | $74,690 | High school or GED | 0% | 14,800 |
| 12 | Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining | $74,500 | No diploma needed | a decline of 15.8% | 400 |
| 13 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door | $74,340 | High school or GED | 4.3% | 3,600 |
| 14 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers (BLS) | $74,330 | High school or GED | a decline of 3.4% | 8,000 |
| 15 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment (BLS) | $74,090 | Certificate | 0.3% | 4,700 |
| 16 | Pile driver operators (BLS) | $73,300 | High school or GED | a decline of 5.7% | 200 |
| 17 | Commercial divers | $72,990 | Certificate | 4.8% | 400 |
| 18 | Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators | $70,070 | High school or GED | 1.5% | 1,200 |
| 19 | Tapers (BLS) | $68,270 | No diploma needed | a decline of 1.6% | 900 |
| 20 | Rotary drill operators, oil and gas (BLS) | $67,890 | No diploma needed | 0.8% | 1,100 |
| 21 | Rail car repairers (BLS) | $67,530 | High school or GED | 2.6% | 1,600 |
| 22 | Watch and clock repairers | $67,230 | High school or GED | a decline of 0.3% | 100 |
| 23 | Millwrights (BLS) | $65,700 | High school or GED | 0.9% | 3,200 |
| 24 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (BLS) | $65,510 | High school or GED | 6.7% | 15,000 |
| 25 | Industrial machinery mechanics (BLS) | $64,520 | High school or GED | 17.8% | 44,400 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 (Table 1.2), May 2025 median wages, retrieved 2026-10-09. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or switch fields.
Why apprenticeships dominate the top
The trades near the top tend to be the ones with the most to learn and the highest stakes when something goes wrong: live power lines, elevators, gas lines. Employers and unions train for those jobs through long apprenticeships, often four or five years. You can search registered programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Trades with shorter training, like roofing or painting, sit lower on pay but can get you working within weeks. Neither is the wrong choice; it depends on how long you can wait for full pay.
Overtime changes the picture
These are base medians. Many trades offer overtime at time and a half, and storm work or shutdowns can add a lot in a busy year. Use the hourly to yearly calculator to see what extra hours would do to your pay.
Questions people ask
What is the highest-paying trade?
In the 2025 data, elevator and escalator installers and repairers have the highest median pay of the common trades, with powerhouse repairers and power line installers close behind. These usually take years of training on the job.
Which trades pay well and are quick to learn?
Look at jobs with a certificate as the typical way in, such as HVAC and wind turbine technicians. Sort the table by pay, then read the training column.
Are trade wages the same everywhere?
No. Union areas and big cities often pay more, and rural areas less. Check local pay before you commit.