Highest-paying trades in Arizona
28 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states and the union scale.
Every trade in Arizona, ranked by median pay
| # | Trade | Median $/hr | Median $/yr | 90th pct $/hr | Jobs | State rank | 10-yr real change | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction manager | $55.14 | $114,680 | $81.04 | 9,910 | 20th of 51 | +1.4% | about the same as |
| 2 | Construction supervisor | $37.76 | $78,550 | $49.51 | 21,550 | 28th of 51 | -0.2% | 2% below |
| 3 | Boilermaker | $37.47 | $77,940 | $40.46 | 170 | 20th of 37 | +18.0% | 2% above |
| 4 | Lineman | $36.26 | $75,420 | $59.76 | 3,360 | 51st of 51 | -32.2% | 21% below |
| 5 | Crane operator | $32.38 | $67,350 | $42.31 | 930 | 26th of 50 | +14.3% | 1% below |
| 6 | Wind turbine technician | $31.89 | $66,330 | $44.57 | 80 | 12th of 25 | — | 3% above |
| 7 | Plumber | $29.84 | $62,070 | $48.13 | 11,810 | 33rd of 51 | -2.1% | 3% below |
| 8 | Diesel mechanic | $29.65 | $61,680 | $40.56 | 5,140 | 23rd of 51 | +3.3% | about the same as |
| 9 | Machinist | $29.37 | $61,080 | $36.83 | 4,330 | 18th of 51 | +14.7% | 4% above |
| 10 | Electrician | $29.36 | $61,060 | $43.08 | 21,140 | 38th of 51 | -2.9% | 3% below |
| 11 | Heavy equipment operator | $29.14 | $60,620 | $38.20 | 13,200 | 27th of 51 | +1.4% | 1% above |
| 12 | HVAC technician | $28.56 | $59,400 | $38.54 | 10,860 | 34th of 51 | +4.9% | 3% below |
| 13 | Ironworker | $28.55 | $59,390 | $44.36 | 3,980 | 34th of 50 | +15.0% | 5% below |
| 14 | Brickmason | $28.49 | $59,260 | $36.08 | 1,190 | 33rd of 50 | +11.9% | 5% below |
| 15 | Cement mason | $28.32 | $58,910 | $36.90 | 7,520 | 23rd of 51 | +18.7% | 3% above |
| 16 | Carpenter | $28.17 | $58,580 | $36.52 | 16,230 | 29th of 51 | +13.5% | 3% below |
| 17 | Millwright | $27.59 | $57,380 | $51.95 | 450 | 45th of 48 | -8.8% | 13% below |
| 18 | Glazier | $27.19 | $56,560 | $33.89 | 2,370 | 26th of 50 | +21.1% | 1% below |
| 19 | Welder | $26.73 | $55,600 | $39.08 | 7,270 | 26th of 51 | +9.8% | 3% above |
| 20 | Tile setter | $25.00 | $52,000 | $33.74 | 1,060 | 22nd of 47 | +8.3% | 7% below |
| 21 | Solar installer | $24.60 | $51,160 | $37.88 | 1,280 | 14th of 32 | -3.7% | 4% below |
| 22 | Drywall installer | $24.18 | $50,290 | $32.09 | 2,590 | 29th of 49 | +2.1% | 15% below |
| 23 | Sheet metal worker | $24.16 | $50,260 | $38.82 | 3,060 | 42nd of 50 | -14.6% | 19% below |
| 24 | Plasterer | $23.80 | $49,510 | $36.53 | 1,910 | 23rd of 28 | +11.0% | 14% below |
| 25 | Painter | $23.20 | $48,250 | $30.59 | 5,210 | 30th of 51 | +2.3% | 2% below |
| 26 | Roofer | $22.76 | $47,340 | $30.10 | 3,420 | 39th of 51 | -0.6% | 15% below |
| 27 | Construction laborer | $22.40 | $46,590 | $29.29 | 37,630 | 30th of 51 | +16.4% | 1% below |
| 28 | Insulation worker | $20.29 | $42,210 | $29.43 | 780 | 45th of 48 | — | 14% below |
Construction jobs in Arizona
230.3kConstruction jobs2026-08
+3.1%Change over 12 months
+28.0%Change over 5 years
Prevailing wage in Arizona
Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Arizona, 14 of 15 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $51.34/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.
Metros in Arizona
Questions this page answers
What is the highest-paying trade in Arizona?
Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $55.14 an hour in May 2025, followed by first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers ($37.76) and boilermakers ($37.47).
How does Arizona compare with the rest of the country?
Across the 28 trades listed, 6 pay above the national median in Arizona and 22 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 100.7% of the US average (BEA).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Arizona.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-08.
- BEA Regional Price Parities.
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).