Skilled Wages

Real wage growth by trade

Computed from public data; nothing hand-picked.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025

  1. 1+13.8%Plasterer
  2. 2+11.2%Cement mason
  3. 3+11.2%Roofer

Trades ranked by inflation-adjusted wage growth

Ten-year real change in median hourly wage by trade-20%-10%0%10%20%Plasterer: +13.8%Plasterer+13.8%Cement mason: +11.2%Cement mason+11.2%Roofer: +11.2%Roofer+11.2%Drywall installer: +10.6%Drywall installer+10.6%Construction laborer: +8.8%Construction laborer+8.8%Machinist: +6.7%Machinist+6.7%Glazier: +6.5%Glazier+6.5%Carpenter: +5.9%Carpenter+5.9%Lineman: +5.6%Lineman+5.6%Tile setter: +4.1%Tile setter+4.1%Welder: +3.7%Welder+3.7%Solar installer: +3.4%Solar installer+3.4%Diesel mechanic: +2.2%Diesel mechanic+2.2%Elevator mechanic: +0.1%Elevator mechanic+0.1%HVAC technician: -0.4%HVAC technician-0.4%Sheet metal worker: -0.5%Sheet metal worker-0.5%Painter: -0.6%Painter-0.6%Heavy equipment operator: -1.2%Heavy equipment operator-1.2%Crane operator: -3.0%Crane operator-3.0%Construction manager: -3.1%Construction manager-3.1%Brickmason: -4.6%Brickmason-4.6%Construction supervisor: -5.2%Construction supervisor-5.2%Millwright: -5.9%Millwright-5.9%Boilermaker: -6.4%Boilermaker-6.4%Plumber: -7.2%Plumber-7.2%Wind turbine technician: -7.5%Wind turbine technician-7.5%Ironworker: -8.5%Ironworker-8.5%Electrician: -10.3%Electrician-10.3%
Change in the CPI-adjusted median hourly wage over the ten years to 2025.
#Trade10-year real change20-year real changeMedian $/hr 2025
1Plasterer+13.8%+4.6%$27.72
2Cement mason+11.2%+8.0%$27.41
3Roofer+11.2%+7.7%$26.65
4Drywall installer+10.6%+2.9%$28.33
5Construction laborer+8.8%+12.5%$22.66
6Machinist+6.7%+3.8%$28.24
7Glazier+6.5%+3.3%$27.44
8Carpenter+5.9%+3.2%$29.12
9Lineman+5.6%+15.3%$45.83
10Tile setter+4.1%-7.5%$26.77
11Welder+3.7%+5.2%$25.84
12Solar installer+3.4%—$25.55
13Diesel mechanic+2.2%+2.3%$29.70
14Elevator mechanic+0.1%+12.6%$52.84
15HVAC technician-0.4%-0.1%$29.33
16Sheet metal worker-0.5%+3.0%$29.71
17Painter-0.6%-2.7%$23.75
18Heavy equipment operator-1.2%+1.3%$28.78
19Crane operator-3.0%+6.2%$32.73
20Construction manager-3.1%-3.5%$55.28
21Brickmason-4.6%-10.0%$29.87
22Construction supervisor-5.2%-6.7%$38.42
23Millwright-5.9%-11.0%$31.59
24Boilermaker-6.4%-3.5%$36.74
25Plumber-7.2%-8.2%$30.67
26Wind turbine technician-7.5%—$30.83
27Ironworker-8.5%-6.2%$30.18
28Electrician-10.3%-10.4%$30.38

Real change = CPI-U adjusted median hourly wage. BLS cautions that OEWS is not designed for time series (methods changed in 2021 and 2022); treat small differences as noise.

Questions this page answers

Have trade wages kept up with inflation?

14 of 28 trades show a real (CPI-adjusted) gain in median wage over the last ten years; plasterers and stucco masons gained most (+13.8%) and electricians least (-10.3%).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
  • BLS Employment Projections; BLS CPI-U; BEA Regional Price Parities; SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).