Top-Paying States for Skilled Trades in the U.S.

Skilled trades continue to stand out as one of the most accessible, reliable, and financially rewarding career paths in the United States. Unlike many four-year degree programs, trade careers allow workers to enter the field quickly—often in under two years—while benefiting from lower training costs and the ability to earn income early. As construction, transportation, energy, industrial maintenance, and infrastructure projects expand nationwide, wages in the trades have steadily risen, especially in states experiencing workforce shortages or rapid economic growth.

This report breaks down the highest-paying states for ten major skilled trades and highlights where wage opportunities, job demand, and long-term stability are strongest. Each trade listed below is linked to a dedicated career guide on TradeSchoolDudes.com, where students and career changers can explore training paths, certifications, apprenticeships, and job outlooks in more detail.

Highest-Paying States for Each Skilled Trade

The table below shows the states where each skilled trade earns the strongest average wages nationwide.
These ranges reflect combined data from state labor market sources, industry wage surveys, and regions where compensation is consistently above the national median.

Trade	Top-Paying States	Average Annual Wage
Electricians	California, Alaska, New York, New Jersey	$70K–$85K
Plumbers	Alaska, California, Massachusetts, New York	$68K–$82K
Carpenters	Alaska, Massachusetts, Washington, California	$65K–$78K
HVAC Technicians	Alaska, California, Washington, New York	$60K–$74K
Welders	Alaska, North Dakota, California, Louisiana	$58K–$72K
Heavy Equipment Operators	Alaska, Nevada, Washington, New York	$60K–$75K
Roofers	Hawaii, Illinois, California, Massachusetts	$55K–$68K
Painters	Alaska, New York, California, Washington	$52K–$65K
Brickmasons & Masons	Illinois, Massachusetts, Alaska, New York	$60K–$77K
Diesel Mechanics	Alaska, California, Washington, Nevada	$62K–$78K

Average Annual Wage Comparison by Trade

The chart below compares the lower and upper ends of typical annual wage ranges for each skilled trade across the highest-paying states.

Why These States Top the List

Several states consistently appear across the highest-paying lists. This isn’t random—these regions share economic factors that drive wages upward, including:

• High union participation in construction and industrial trades
• Large-scale infrastructure projects requiring skilled labor
• Energy and resource extraction industries (Alaska, North Dakota, Louisiana)
• Higher cost-of-living markets that push wage floors upward (California, New York, New Jersey)
• Worker shortages that increase employer competition for talent

Together, these factors make certain states national leaders in compensation, especially for electricians, plumbers, heavy equipment operators, mechanics, and welders.

Top Trades Across the U.S. (Employment, Pay & Demand)

Beyond wages, each trade shows different employment concentrations and long-term hiring needs.
Some thrive in energy-producing regions, while others grow fastest in coastal states or rapidly expanding Sun Belt metros.

Trade	Top Employment States	Highest Pay States	Per-Capita Leaders	High-Demand Regions
Electricians	California, Texas, Florida, New York, Ohio	California, Alaska, New York, New Jersey	Alaska, Oregon, Washington, D.C.	Texas, Florida, the Midwest
Plumbers	California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, New York	Massachusetts, Alaska, New York, Oregon	Alaska, Vermont, Maine	Florida, Texas, Georgia, Arizona
Carpenters	California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois	Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois	Vermont, Maine, Oregon	Oregon, Washington, Colorado, North Carolina
HVAC Technicians	Florida, California, Texas, New York, North Carolina	Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Washington	Montana, Wyoming, Idaho	Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Georgia
Welders	Texas, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Louisiana	Alaska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Washington	Louisiana, Wyoming, Alaska	Texas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Louisiana
Heavy Equipment Operators	Texas, California, Florida, New York	Alaska, Nevada, Washington	Wyoming, Alaska, North Dakota	Transport & utility infrastructure hubs
Roofers	Florida, Texas, California, New York	Hawaii, Illinois, California	Florida, Arizona	Storm-prone & high-growth regions
Painters	California, Texas, Florida, New York	Alaska, New York, California	Hawaii, Montana	Nationwide demand
Brickmasons & Masons	Texas, Florida, New York, Ohio	Illinois, Massachusetts, Alaska	West Virginia, Kentucky	Infrastructure & restoration markets
Diesel Mechanics	Texas, California, Florida, Ohio	Alaska, California, Washington	Wyoming, North Dakota	Logistics-heavy Southern & Midwestern regions

Data Sources & Methodology

Wage and employment data in this report are compiled from:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
• State workforce agencies and labor market dashboards
• Union wage sheets and regional prevailing wage data
• Industry reports and high-paying metro wage ranges

Wage ranges shown represent blended averages across high-paying states and may include
union rates, metro premiums, cost-of-living adjustments, and publicly reported employer wage data.

FAQ: Skilled Trade Salaries by State

What is the highest-paying skilled trade in the U.S.?

Electricians, plumbers, diesel mechanics, and heavy equipment operators consistently rank among the highest-paid trades across most states.

Which state pays the most overall for skilled trades?

Alaska ranks highly across almost every trade due to its resource industries, strong union presence, and higher wages needed to attract out-of-state workers.

Do cost-of-living differences affect trade wages?

Yes. States such as California, New York, and Hawaii have higher wage floors, while energy states like North Dakota and Louisiana pay more due to demand and specialized work.

Where are skilled trades most in demand?

The Sun Belt (Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arizona), the Pacific Northwest, and industrial Midwest show long-term demand because of population growth, logistics, and infrastructure expansion.

Is apprenticeship or trade school better for getting started?

Both work. Many high-paying trades—such as electricians, plumbers, and welders—offer apprenticeships that allow workers to earn while training.

Where to Learn More

To explore training options near you, visit:

• How to Become a Welder
• How to Become an Electrician
• How to Become an HVAC Technician
• How to Become a Diesel Mechanic

The skilled trades continue to offer some of the strongest earning potential and long-term job security in the modern workforce. Whether choosing a traditional trade school or a paid apprenticeship, workers can build stable, high-paying careers in any state across the country.

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