High-paying trades, ranked by federal pay data
11 skilled trades with $65k+ average pay in the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (average = BLS mean annual wage across all experience levels, not starting pay). Each shows the median and entry-level (bottom 10%) pay too.
Every trade below has a BLS national average (mean annual wage, all experience levels, not starting pay) of $65,000 or more. Medians and entry-level (bottom 10%) pay are shown alongside.
Elevator Mechanic
O*NET 47-4021.00 · 128 listed programs
- Average (all levels)
- $109,820
- Median
- $109,910
- Bottom 10%
- $59,270
- Top 10%
- $158,890
Lineworker
O*NET 49-9051.00 · 376 listed programs
- Average (all levels)
- $91,970
- Median
- $95,320
- Bottom 10%
- $51,470
- Top 10%
- $128,690
Refinery & Process Operator
O*NET 51-8093.00 · 209 listed programs
- Average (all levels)
- $90,630
- Median
- $96,710
- Bottom 10%
- $57,110
- Top 10%
- $115,880
Aircraft Mechanic
O*NET 49-3011.00 · 499 listed programs
- Average (all levels)
- $84,740
- Median
- $79,870
- Bottom 10%
- $48,780
- Top 10%
- $128,890
Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technician
O*NET 17-3023.00 · 662 listed programs
- Average (all levels)
- $80,680
- Median
- $78,190
- Bottom 10%
- $49,510
- Top 10%
- $115,700
Industrial Automation Technician
O*NET 17-3024.00 · 663 listed programs
- Average (all levels)
- $76,420
- Median
- $73,900
- Bottom 10%
- $47,840
- Top 10%
- $109,890
Industrial Electronics Technician
O*NET 49-2094.00 · 222 listed programs
- Average (all levels)
- $75,570
- Median
- $74,090
- Bottom 10%
- $46,840
- Top 10%
- $105,590
Pipefitter & Steamfitter
O*NET 47-2152.00 · 509 listed programs
- Average (all levels)
- $72,170
- Median
- $63,800
- Bottom 10%
- $44,150
- Top 10%
- $108,420
Crane Operator
O*NET 53-7021.00 · 35 listed programs
- Average (all levels)
- $72,130
- Median
- $68,080
- Bottom 10%
- $42,640
- Top 10%
- $103,570
Electrician
O*NET 47-2111.00 · 1,346 listed programs
- Average (all levels)
- $71,490
- Median
- $63,190
- Bottom 10%
- $42,640
- Top 10%
- $108,510
Operating Engineer
O*NET 47-2073.00 · 184 listed programs
- Average (all levels)
- $66,290
- Median
- $59,850
- Bottom 10%
- $42,190
- Top 10%
- $101,090
Side by side
Compare pay across trades
| Trade | O*NET code | Average (all levels) | Entry-level / bottom 10% | Median | Top 10% | Employed | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator Mechanic Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | 47-4021.00 | $109,820 | $59,270 | $109,910 | $158,890 | 23,790 | 128 |
| Lineworker Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 49-9051.00 | $91,970 | $51,470 | $95,320 | $128,690 | 131,070 | 376 |
| Refinery & Process Operator Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 51-8093.00 | $90,630 | $57,110 | $96,710 | $115,880 | 33,160 | 209 |
| Aircraft Mechanic Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | 49-3011.00 | $84,740 | $48,780 | $79,870 | $128,890 | 138,090 | 499 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technician Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 17-3023.00 | $80,680 | $49,510 | $78,190 | $115,700 | 95,130 | 662 |
| Industrial Automation Technician Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | 17-3024.00 | $76,420 | $47,840 | $73,900 | $109,890 | 15,520 | 663 |
| Industrial Electronics Technician Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 49-2094.00 | $75,570 | $46,840 | $74,090 | $105,590 | 65,010 | 222 |
| Pipefitter & Steamfitter Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 47-2152.00 | $72,170 | $44,150 | $63,800 | $108,420 | 465,840 | 509 |
| Crane Operator Crane and Tower Operators | 53-7021.00 | $72,130 | $42,640 | $68,080 | $103,570 | 42,890 | 35 |
| Electrician Electricians | 47-2111.00 | $71,490 | $42,640 | $63,190 | $108,510 | 757,220 | 1,346 |
| Operating Engineer Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 47-2073.00 | $66,290 | $42,190 | $59,850 | $101,090 | 478,090 | 184 |
Checked and left out because they miss both bars: welders (SOC 51-4121: average $56,760 across all experience levels, median $53,750, 90th percentile $77,530). Industrial machinery mechanics (49-9041, average $68,460) were also checked and are not listed as a separate trade yet; see methodology.