Trade pay in Raleigh
Raleigh-Cary, NC: 22 trades ranked by median wage, with the union scale and the jobs trend.
Every trade in Raleigh, ranked
| # | Trade | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Median $/yr | Jobs | vs state | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction manager | $37.51 | $57.55 | $87.98 | $119,700 | 3,020 | 12% above | 4% above |
| 2 | Lineman | $21.12 | $37.95 | $50.78 | $78,930 | 550 | 2% above | 17% below |
| 3 | Construction supervisor | $26.72 | $37.35 | $57.81 | $77,690 | 6,080 | 3% above | 3% below |
| 4 | Crane operator | $26.33 | $34.87 | $43.91 | $72,520 | 170 | 12% above | 7% above |
| 5 | Machinist | $19.20 | $29.53 | $34.62 | $61,430 | 570 | 11% above | 5% above |
| 6 | Plumber | $20.64 | $29.10 | $37.31 | $60,540 | 2,810 | 6% above | 5% below |
| 7 | Diesel mechanic | $22.48 | $28.99 | $37.12 | $60,310 | 1,070 | 5% above | 2% below |
| 8 | HVAC technician | $18.83 | $28.32 | $37.42 | $58,900 | 2,550 | 3% above | 3% below |
| 9 | Welder | $19.45 | $27.37 | $34.52 | $56,940 | 1,090 | 13% above | 6% above |
| 10 | Electrician | $21.97 | $27.31 | $35.46 | $56,800 | 3,740 | about the same as | 10% below |
| 11 | Heavy equipment operator | $19.49 | $24.57 | $31.71 | $51,110 | 3,080 | 4% above | 15% below |
| 12 | Carpenter | $16.04 | $24.43 | $31.17 | $50,820 | 2,680 | 3% above | 16% below |
| 13 | Roofer | $18.50 | $24.39 | $29.12 | $50,720 | 580 | 4% above | 8% below |
| 14 | Sheet metal worker | $18.34 | $24.31 | $31.65 | $50,570 | 470 | about the same as | 18% below |
| 15 | Brickmason | $18.81 | $24.00 | $30.40 | $49,920 | 290 | about the same as | 20% below |
| 16 | Cement mason | $18.35 | $22.80 | $30.45 | $47,430 | 870 | 1% above | 17% below |
| 17 | Glazier | $18.61 | $22.62 | $29.25 | $47,060 | 120 | 2% above | 18% below |
| 18 | Insulation worker | $16.84 | $22.13 | $31.30 | $46,030 | 480 | 7% above | 6% below |
| 19 | Drywall installer | $15.39 | $22.07 | $29.46 | $45,900 | 360 | 2% above | 22% below |
| 20 | Construction laborer | $17.25 | $21.95 | $28.78 | $45,650 | 6,360 | 2% above | 3% below |
| 21 | Painter | $17.71 | $21.81 | $27.85 | $45,360 | 810 | 3% above | 8% below |
| 22 | Tile setter | $17.57 | $21.57 | $26.35 | $44,860 | 130 | about the same as | 19% below |
Union scale in the Raleigh area
The highest Davis-Bacon Building-construction package among the counties in the Raleigh 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 | $27.31 | $31.07 | $13.36 | $44.43 | Union | 3 of 3 |
| Plumber | $29.10 | $23.66 | $6.60 | $30.26 | Survey | 3 of 3 |
| Carpenter | $24.43 | $20.54 | $3.21 | $23.75 | Survey | 3 of 3 |
| Construction laborer | $21.95 | $14.78 | $2.13 | $16.91 | Survey | 3 of 3 |
| Heavy equipment operator | $24.57 | $25.00 | $0.00 | $25.00 | Survey | 3 of 3 |
| Ironworker | — | $29.75 | $18.00 | $47.75 | Union | 3 of 3 |
| Sheet metal worker | $24.31 | $19.67 | $13.27 | $32.94 | Survey | 3 of 3 |
| Painter | $21.81 | $15.55 | $1.05 | $16.60 | Survey | 3 of 3 |
Not the official determination. County-level lookup on the North Carolina prevailing wage page.
Construction jobs in Raleigh
58.4kConstruction jobs2026-08
+7.6%Change over 12 months
+31.8%Change over 5 years
Questions this page answers
What is the highest-paying trade in Raleigh?
In the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, construction managers had the highest median wage at $57.55 an hour in May 2025, with 3,020 jobs counted.
Do trades pay more in Raleigh than the rest of North Carolina?
In Raleigh, 18 of 22 trades pay above the North Carolina state median and 0 pay below it; the biggest premium is for construction managers at $57.55.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA.
- BLS CES metro employment.
- BEA metro Regional Price Parities.
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations.