Trade pay in Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI: 28 trades ranked by median wage, with the union scale and the jobs trend.
Every trade in Detroit, ranked
| # | Trade | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Median $/yr | Jobs | vs state | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction manager | $30.85 | $52.83 | $86.25 | $109,890 | 3,970 | 6% above | 4% below |
| 2 | Elevator mechanic | $23.96 | $51.25 | $68.33 | $106,610 | 280 | 8% above | 3% below |
| 3 | Lineman | $30.61 | $50.17 | $62.56 | $104,360 | 860 | 2% below | 9% above |
| 4 | Boilermaker | $35.82 | $48.13 | $51.52 | $100,110 | — | 2% above | 31% above |
| 5 | Millwright | $37.31 | $44.16 | $45.45 | $91,850 | 1,490 | 3% above | 40% above |
| 6 | Plumber | $23.20 | $41.53 | $51.82 | $86,370 | 5,520 | 8% above | 35% above |
| 7 | Electrician | $22.43 | $39.42 | $51.60 | $81,990 | 11,210 | 7% above | 30% above |
| 8 | Construction supervisor | $29.00 | $38.76 | $59.88 | $80,610 | 6,600 | 3% above | 1% above |
| 9 | Plasterer | $23.31 | $37.16 | $38.59 | $77,290 | 70 | 6% above | 34% above |
| 10 | Sheet metal worker | $21.92 | $36.12 | $47.34 | $75,120 | 1,640 | 16% above | 22% above |
| 11 | Heavy equipment operator | $23.22 | $32.76 | $45.16 | $68,130 | 3,790 | 9% above | 14% above |
| 12 | Carpenter | $22.86 | $31.64 | $39.80 | $65,810 | 7,610 | 7% above | 9% above |
| 13 | Roofer | $23.02 | $30.48 | $38.69 | $63,390 | 1,450 | 6% above | 14% above |
| 14 | Diesel mechanic | $22.52 | $30.46 | $42.70 | $63,360 | 3,820 | 3% above | 3% above |
| 15 | HVAC technician | $20.60 | $30.37 | $45.97 | $63,170 | 5,740 | 4% above | 4% above |
| 16 | Ironworker | $19.84 | $30.23 | $38.05 | $62,870 | 930 | about the same as | about the same as |
| 17 | Brickmason | $23.64 | $30.21 | $45.04 | $62,830 | 1,120 | 1% below | 1% above |
| 18 | Cement mason | $22.34 | $29.96 | $37.28 | $62,330 | 2,350 | 4% above | 9% above |
| 19 | Drywall installer | $22.32 | $28.89 | $37.01 | $60,080 | 410 | 3% above | 2% above |
| 20 | Crane operator | $21.31 | $28.72 | $48.29 | $59,740 | 650 | about the same as | 12% below |
| 21 | Machinist | $18.58 | $28.51 | $37.85 | $59,310 | 7,680 | 13% above | 1% above |
| 22 | Construction laborer | $18.55 | $27.61 | $34.87 | $57,430 | 11,610 | 16% above | 22% above |
| 23 | Glazier | $22.40 | $27.39 | $37.87 | $56,980 | 820 | 8% above | about the same as |
| 24 | Painter | $18.93 | $27.08 | $36.57 | $56,330 | 1,920 | 11% above | 14% above |
| 25 | Welder | $18.75 | $24.91 | $36.42 | $51,810 | 4,580 | 4% above | 4% below |
| 26 | Solar installer | $19.13 | $23.09 | $28.95 | $48,020 | 140 | 2% above | 10% below |
| 27 | Tile setter | $15.22 | $22.98 | $35.88 | $47,800 | 470 | about the same as | 14% below |
| 28 | Insulation worker | $15.59 | $22.30 | $39.36 | $46,390 | 330 | about the same as | 6% below |
Union scale in the Detroit area
The highest Davis-Bacon Building-construction package among the counties in the Detroit metro, next to the metro market median from BLS.
| Trade | Metro market median | DB base | Fringe | Total package | Rate source | Counties with a rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $39.42 | $44.83 | $26.96 | $71.79 | Union | 2 of 6 |
| Plumber | $41.53 | $45.34 | $37.21 | $82.55 | Union | 6 of 6 |
| Carpenter | $31.64 | $35.86 | $23.69 | $59.55 | Union | 6 of 6 |
| Construction laborer | $27.61 | $38.00 | $18.25 | $56.25 | Union | 6 of 6 |
| Heavy equipment operator | $32.76 | $45.34 | $25.35 | $70.69 | Union | 6 of 6 |
| Ironworker | $30.23 | $36.55 | $35.93 | $72.48 | Union | 6 of 6 |
| Sheet metal worker | $36.12 | $42.51 | $35.77 | $78.28 | Union | 4 of 6 |
| Painter | $27.08 | $32.85 | $20.41 | $53.26 | Union | 6 of 6 |
Not the official determination. County-level lookup on the Michigan prevailing wage page.
Construction jobs in Detroit
93.9kConstruction jobs2026-08
-1.1%Change over 12 months
+13.4%Change over 5 years
Questions this page answers
What is the highest-paying trade in Detroit?
In the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area, construction managers had the highest median wage at $52.83 an hour in May 2025, with 3,970 jobs counted.
Do trades pay more in Detroit than the rest of Michigan?
In Detroit, 22 of 28 trades pay above the Michigan state median and 2 pay below it; the biggest premium is for construction managers at $52.83.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI MSA.
- BLS CES metro employment.
- BEA metro Regional Price Parities.
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations.