--- title: "High-Paying Trades: Pay Data & Training Programs" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/ description: "11 skilled trades with $65k+ average pay (BLS, all experience levels), with median and entry-level pay and 4,833 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. Trades 11 trades · May 2025 estimates # 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 Programs & pay by state →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/elevator-mechanic/) [### 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 Programs & pay by state →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/) [### 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 Programs & pay by state →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/process-operator/) [### 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 Programs & pay by state →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/aircraft-mechanic/) [### 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 Programs & pay by state →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/electrical-engineering-technician/) [### 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 Programs & pay by state →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/industrial-automation-technician/) [### 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 Programs & pay by state →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/industrial-electronics-technician/) [### 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 Programs & pay by state →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/) [### 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 Programs & pay by state →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/) [### 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 Programs & pay by state →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/electrician/) [### 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 Programs & pay by state →](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/) 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](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/elevator-mechanic/) Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | 47-4021.00 | $109,820 | $59,270 | $109,910 | $158,890 | 23,790 | 128 | | [Lineworker](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/lineworker/) Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | 49-9051.00 | $91,970 | $51,470 | $95,320 | $128,690 | 131,070 | 376 | | [Refinery & Process Operator](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/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](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/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](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/electrical-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](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/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](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/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](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/pipefitter/) Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 47-2152.00 | $72,170 | $44,150 | $63,800 | $108,420 | 465,840 | 509 | | [Crane Operator](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/) Crane and Tower Operators | 53-7021.00 | $72,130 | $42,640 | $68,080 | $103,570 | 42,890 | 35 | | [Electrician](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/electrician/) Electricians | 47-2111.00 | $71,490 | $42,640 | $63,190 | $108,510 | 757,220 | 1,346 | | [Operating Engineer](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/) Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 47-2073.00 | $66,290 | $42,190 | $59,850 | $101,090 | 478,090 | 184 | U.S. annual wages, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Average = mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions (6-digit CIP) + DOL Office of Apprenticeship matches. 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](https://highpayingtrades.com/about/). --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/ 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.