---
title: "Real Pay Data for Skilled Trades | HighPayingTrades"
canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/
description: "Real pay data for skilled trades: BLS average, median and entry-level pay by state, job growth, and which trades’ top earners (top 10%) make $100k+."
updated: 2026-11-03
wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15"
---

# Real pay data for *skilled trades*

What each skilled trade pays, nationally and by state, from federal wage data. Then how many schools and registered apprenticeships train for it, with tuition ranges only where they are published.

By the [HighPayingTrades Data Team](https://highpayingtrades.com/about/) · Updated 2026-11-04 · Figures as of BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates (released 2026-05-15) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (released 2026-08-27)

- **14** Trades with BLS pay data (BLS OEWS May 2025)
- **$109,820** Highest average (Elevator Mechanic)
- **13,602** Listed programs
- **54** States & territories

Source: [BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates](https://highpayingtrades.com/methodology/), average pay across all experience levels · [**$100k+** trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades-that-pay-100k/). Also: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, released 2026-08-27; DOL; NCES IPEDS 2023-24; College Scorecard tuition.

**Trades that pay $100k+:** Top 10% earn $100k+ in 11 trades; Elevator Mechanic averages $109,820 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

[See all trades that pay $100k](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades-that-pay-100k/)

The trades

## Top-paying trades by average pay

National annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Each trade page has state pay, an O\*NET profile and training counts.

[**Elevator Mechanic** Average $109,820 Median $109,910 Top 10% $158,890](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/elevator-mechanic/) [**Lineworker** Average $91,970 Median $95,320 Top 10% $128,690](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/) [**Refinery & Process Operator** Average $90,630 Median $96,710 Top 10% $115,880](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/) [**Aircraft Mechanic** Average $84,740 Median $79,870 Top 10% $128,890](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/) [**Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technician** Average $80,680 Median $78,190 Top 10% $115,700](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/electrical-engineering-technician/) [**Industrial Automation Technician** Average $76,420 Median $73,900 Top 10% $109,890](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/industrial-automation-technician/)

[**See all 14 trades →**](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/)

**Built from public data, not opinions:** BLS OEWS pay, Department of Education IPEDS programs, Department of Labor apprenticeships, and tuition only where it is published. [Read the methodology →](https://highpayingtrades.com/methodology/) · [Data API →](https://highpayingtrades.com/api/)

---
Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.