Which trade pays more?
Head-to-head comparisons built from the same BLS data as the trade pages.
- Electrician vs plumberPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- HVAC technician vs electricianPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Plumber vs HVAC technicianPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Electrician vs linemanPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Welder vs electricianPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Carpenter vs electricianPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Welder vs plumberPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Diesel mechanic vs electricianPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Electrician vs elevator mechanicPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Crane operator vs heavy equipment operatorPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Lineman vs plumberPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Welder vs diesel mechanicPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Solar installer vs electricianPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Solar installer vs rooferPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
- Wind turbine technician vs solar installerPay, range, growth and which pays more in each state
Each comparison puts two trades side by side using the same BLS employer-survey data as the trade pages: the median and the 10th–90th percentile range, national job counts, ten-year projected growth and annual openings, and the change in real (inflation-adjusted) pay over the last decade. A state map shows which of the two trades pays more in each state, with the exact medians in a table, because the national answer often flips locally: a trade that earns more nationwide can trail in a state where the other trade is heavily unionised or in short supply. States where the two medians are within $0.50 an hour are shown as about even.
Pay is straight-time wages before overtime and benefits. Union total packages, which add fringe benefits worth 20–70 percent of the base wage in many areas, are on each trade's state pages.
Missing a pair you want? Every trade page links to its state pages, where the same percentile bands can be read side by side, and the heatmap puts all trades and states on one grid. Suggestions for new pairs are welcome through the contact page.