In short
In May 2025, the middle electrician earned $63,190 a year and the top 10 percent earned more than $108,510, according to BLS. Plumbers and pipefitters were similar, HVAC mechanics a little lower and welders lower still. In every trade, the gap between the bottom and top is large, and it is mostly explained by experience, licenses, specialty, overtime and union scale.
| Trade | Bottom 10% | Median | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | $42,640 | $63,190 | $108,510 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters | $44,150 | $63,800 | $108,420 |
| Structural ironworkers | $44,580 | $62,780 | $108,260 |
| Diesel mechanics | $44,530 | $61,770 | $88,740 |
| HVAC mechanics | $40,050 | $61,010 | $95,210 |
| Truck drivers (heavy) | $40,140 | $58,640 | $79,380 |
| Welders | $39,240 | $53,750 | $77,530 |
| Auto technicians | $34,660 | $50,620 | $81,790 |
Pay by trade
What moves you up the scale
- Topping out: finishing an apprenticeship and earning the full journey rate is the biggest single jump.
- Licenses and certifications: a journeyman or master license, or a pipe welding certification, opens higher paid work.
- Specialty: industrial, controls, pipe and high-voltage work pay more than entry residential work in most trades.
- Overtime and travel: shutdowns and travel jobs often pay overtime and per diem.
- Running work: foremen, superintendents and estimators earn above the journey rate.
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Straight answers
What trade pays the most?
Among the trades on this page, electricians and plumbers have the highest top-end pay. Elevator mechanics and power line workers earn even more but have far fewer jobs.
Do these numbers include overtime?
BLS wage estimates cover straight-time pay and exclude overtime, so many tradespeople earn more than these figures in busy years.
What do new tradespeople make?
New helpers and first-year apprentices usually earn near or below the bottom 25 percent figure for their trade.