What do the trades pay in Virginia?
Median hourly pay, May 20251. Pick a trade for training, pay and the license.
Electrician
Wiring, panels and fixtures
$30.24/hrVirginia median
Plumber
Water, drain and gas lines
$29.07/hrVirginia median
HVAC tech
Heating, cooling and ductwork
$28.72/hrVirginia median
Roofer
New roofs and repairs
$23.28/hrVirginia median
General contractor
Runs the job and the crews
$37.81/hrVirginia median, construction supervisors
Is there work in Virginia?
Construction jobs in Virginia, September 2026: 228,500, down 1.4% from a year earlier.
BLS Current Employment Statistics, Sep 2026New homes permitted in Virginia, September 2026: 2,641, up 44.6% from a year earlier.
Census Building Permits Survey, Sep 2026Who licenses contractors in Virginia?
Virginia licenses general contractors and the electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing trades at the state level.2
State board VA Board for Contractors (DPOR)
- ElectricalState license
- PlumbingState license
- HVACState license
- RoofingState license
- General contractorState license
Check a Virginia contractor
Enter the license number. We read it from the state board's own file.
Training near you
Apprentices are hired first and paid while they learn on the job and in class. Trade school comes first and charges tuition.
Where to train and find work near you
Union locals take apprenticeship applications and send members out to union contractors. Open-shop chapters run apprenticeship classes for the people their member contractors hire.
IBEW union locals
- IBEW Local 80Norfolk(757) 480-1740
- IBEW Local 666Richmond(804) 353-9666
- IBEW Local 1340Newport News(757) 875-1340
- IBEW Local 24Office in Baltimore, MD(410) 247-5511
- IBEW Local 26Office in Washington, MD(301) 459-2900
- IBEW Local 70Office in Washington, MD(301) 516-7730
3 more IBEW locals
- IBEW Local 317Office in Huntington, WV(304) 429-5013
- IBEW Local 466Office in Charleston, WV(304) 342-0800
- IBEW Local 934Office in Kingsport, TN(423) 323-5411
Electrical training centers (JATCs)
- Richmond Electricians JATC7914 Midlothian Turnpike, Bon Air(804) 752-8266
- Hampton Roads JATC553 Industrial Park Drive, Newport News(757) 875-1744
- Tidewater Electrical5315 Henneman Drive, Norfolk(757) 480-2812
IEC chapters (open shop)
No IEC chapter lists an office in Virginia. Chapters cover several states; the finder shows each one's area. IEC chapter finder
UA union locals
- UA Local 10Richmond(804) 231-4233
- UA Local 110Norfolk(757) 587-4768
- UA Local 272Portsmouth(757) 537-0765
- UA Local 376Norfolk(757) 270-1608
- UA Local 477Smithfield(757) 617-1180
- UA Local 851Dewitt(804) 898-1703
Training
UA apprenticeships run through a joint committee of the local and union contractors. Call the local for the next application date.
PHCC chapters
- PHCC of Virginia3540 Pump Road, Suite 1134, Richmond(757) 374-8121
- PHCC Hampton Roads3540 Pump Rd Suite 1134, Richmond(757) 868-8600
- PHCC of Northern Virginia3540 Pump Rd Suite 1134, Richmond(757) 374-8121
SMART union locals
No SMART local has its office in Virginia. Search the SMART local union directory.
Sheet metal training centers
- Norfolk Area Joint Apprenticeship & Mechanic Training Fund5307 East Virginia Beach Blvd. Room 109, Norfolk(757) 587-5566
- Richmond Area Joint Apprenticeship & Mechanic Training Fund184 E. Belt Blvd., Richmond(804) 855-9059
- Roanoke Area Sheet Metal Workers JATC2101 Dale Ave. SE, Roanoke(540) 354-9091
PHCC chapters (heating, cooling, plumbing)
- PHCC of Virginia3540 Pump Road, Suite 1134, Richmond(757) 374-8121
- PHCC Hampton Roads3540 Pump Rd Suite 1134, Richmond(757) 868-8600
- PHCC of Northern Virginia3540 Pump Rd Suite 1134, Richmond(757) 374-8121
ACCA member contractors near you
Pipefitters and HVAC service techs also apprentice through the UA: UA locals in Virginia.
Carpenters union locals
- Carpenters Local 205Ashland
Training
Union carpentry apprenticeships run through the regional council's training centers. Carpenters regional council finder
Home builder associations
- HBA of Virginia1051 East Cary Street, Suite 1400, Richmond
- Northern Virginia BIA3684 CENTERVIEW DR STE 110B, CHANTILLY(703) 817-0154
- Top of Virginia Building Association3684 Centerview Dr Ste 110B, Chantilly(703) 817-0154
- Blue Ridge HBA2330 Commonwealth Drive, Charlottesville(434) 953-5418
- New River Valley HBAPO Box 2010, Christiansburg(540) 443-0090
- South Central Virginia HBA300 Ringgold Industrial Pkwy, Danville
9 more chapters
- Fredericksburg Area BA3006 Lafayette Blvd, Fredericksburg(540) 898-2730
- Shenandoah Valley BAPO Box 1286, Harrisonburg(540) 860-1281
- HBA of Richmond400 North Ridge Road, Henrico(804) 282-0475
- Home Building Association of Central Virginia25 Greystone Dr Ste 5, Lynchburg(434) 386-8558
- Roanoke Regional Home Builders Association1626 Apperson Dr, Salem(540) 389-7135
- HBA of Southside Virginia10300 Corporate Rd, South Prince George(804) 526-0012
- Coastal Virginia Building Industry Association5041 Corporate Woods Dr Ste 245, Virginia Beach(757) 305-9042
- Augusta HBA IncPO Box 36, Waynesboro(540) 942-4644
- HBA of RappahannockPO Box 88, Wicomico Church(804) 761-5248
Roofers union locals
No Roofers local has its office in Virginia. Search the Roofers union website.
Training
Roofers locals run their apprenticeship through a joint committee with union contractors.
Contractor associations
The national trade group for roofing contractors is the National Roofing Contractors Association.
Trade schools: where to apply
- Tidewater Tech-Trades4535 E. Princess Anne Rd., NorfolkHVAC programConstruction program
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University210 Burruss Hall, 800 Drillfield Dr., Blacksburg
- Virginia Highlands Community College100 VHCC Drive, AbingdonElectrical programHVAC program
- Tidewater Community College121 College Place, Norfolk
- Wytheville Community College1000 E Main Street, Wytheville
- Centura College-Newport News616 Denbigh Blvd., Newport NewsHVAC program
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Virginia, May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)
- VA Board for Contractors (DPOR) (dpor.virginia.gov)
- Virginia lien law: Va. Code 43-4.01(B)-(C); 43-7(A); 43-9; 43-11 (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Virginia lien law: Va. Code 43-4; 43-3(A); 43-5 (form) (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Virginia lien law: Va. Code 43-17 (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship.gov registered apprenticeship partners (apprenticeship.gov)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (field of study and institution data) (collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, Sep 2026 (bls.gov)
- Census Building Permits Survey, Sep 2026 (census.gov)
- DPOR contractor firm list (Board for Contractors (DPOR)) (dpor.virginia.gov, Oct 27, 2026)