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Construction Trade Careers: Pay and Training by State
Of the five trades here, general contractors earn the highest US median, $38.42 an hour ($79,920 a year), and roofers the lowest, $26.65.[1] Electricians have the fastest projected job growth, 9.5% from 2024 to 2034.[2]
How does pay compare across the trades?
US pay by percentile, May 2025. The bar runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the mark is the median.
| Trade | Range | Median hourly | Median annual | Jobs | Growth 2024-34 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Contractors | $38.42 | $79,920 | 812,210 | 5.3% | 74,400 | |
| Plumbers | $30.67 | $63,800 | 465,840 | 4.5% | 44,000 | |
| Electricians | $30.38 | $63,190 | 757,220 | 9.5% | 81,000 | |
| HVAC Technicians | $29.33 | $61,010 | 409,670 | 8.1% | 40,100 | |
| Roofers | $26.65 | $55,440 | 135,490 | 5.9% | 12,700 |
General contractor figures are for first-line supervisors of construction trades (SOC 47-1011). OEWS counts employees, not the self-employed.
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Trade schools by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national estimates, May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)
- Projections Central, long-term occupational projections 2024-2034 (projectionscentral.org, 2024-2034)