Skilled Wages

Highest-paying trades in California

29 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states and the union scale.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025

Every trade in California, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60$80/hrElevator mechanic: $67.88 (cost-of-living adjusted $61.32)Elevator mechanic$67.88Construction manager: $64.02 (cost-of-living adjusted $57.83)Construction manager$64.02Lineman: $62.04 (cost-of-living adjusted $56.04)Lineman$62.04Boilermaker: $56.80 (cost-of-living adjusted $51.31)Boilermaker$56.80Construction supervisor: $46.96 (cost-of-living adjusted $42.42)Construction supervisor$46.96Heavy equipment operator: $41.90 (cost-of-living adjusted $37.85)Heavy equipment operator$41.90Crane operator: $38.25 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.55)Crane operator$38.25Millwright: $37.48 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.86)Millwright$37.48Wind turbine technician: $37.46 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.84)Wind turbine technician$37.46Sheet metal worker: $36.82 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.26)Sheet metal worker$36.82Ironworker: $36.72 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.17)Ironworker$36.72Electrician: $36.62 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.08)Electrician$36.62Carpenter: $36.50 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.97)Carpenter$36.50Diesel mechanic: $35.55 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.11)Diesel mechanic$35.55Plumber: $35.01 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.63)Plumber$35.01HVAC technician: $34.88 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.51)HVAC technician$34.88Brickmason: $33.20 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.99)Brickmason$33.20Drywall installer: $31.67 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.61)Drywall installer$31.67Glazier: $30.79 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.81)Glazier$30.79Roofer: $30.58 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.62)Roofer$30.58Cement mason: $30.15 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.24)Cement mason$30.15Solar installer: $29.14 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.32)Solar installer$29.14Construction laborer: $28.98 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.18)Construction laborer$28.98Plasterer: $28.82 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.03)Plasterer$28.82Painter: $28.38 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.64)Painter$28.38Tile setter: $28.31 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.57)Tile setter$28.31Welder: $27.91 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.21)Welder$27.91Machinist: $27.49 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.83)Machinist$27.49Insulation worker: $23.48 (cost-of-living adjusted $21.21)Insulation worker$23.48
Median hourly wage by trade in California, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 110.7, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Elevator mechanic$67.88$141,180$83.621,9103rd of 37+8.8%28% above
2Construction manager$64.02$133,160$101.9134,7506th of 51+0.7%16% above
3Lineman$62.04$129,040$80.338,9304th of 51-9.1%35% above
4Boilermaker$56.80$118,150$65.827201st of 37+6.5%55% above
5Construction supervisor$46.96$97,680$75.2571,7509th of 51-3.3%22% above
6Heavy equipment operator$41.90$87,160$63.5636,0204th of 51+0.7%46% above
7Crane operator$38.25$79,570$65.302,13015th of 50-15.7%17% above
8Millwright$37.48$77,950$61.482,2309th of 48+0.6%19% above
9Wind turbine technician$37.46$77,910$54.944003rd of 25+14.8%22% above
10Sheet metal worker$36.82$76,590$63.558,3909th of 50+0.3%24% above
11Ironworker$36.72$76,370$56.757,11016th of 50-14.7%22% above
12Electrician$36.62$76,160$67.4773,31015th of 51-10.6%21% above
13Carpenter$36.50$75,920$57.67100,7503rd of 51+10.4%25% above
14Diesel mechanic$35.55$73,950$46.5020,9405th of 51+5.4%20% above
15Plumber$35.01$72,830$63.0347,66017th of 51-1.7%14% above
16HVAC technician$34.88$72,560$52.4435,13012th of 51+4.5%19% above
17Brickmason$33.20$69,050$52.023,82017th of 50-12.0%11% above
18Drywall installer$31.67$65,880$57.8127,2807th of 49-4.4%12% above
19Glazier$30.79$64,040$58.477,0208th of 50-12.0%12% above
20Roofer$30.58$63,600$42.7921,1907th of 51-6.1%15% above
21Cement mason$30.15$62,700$48.9528,70012th of 51-3.0%10% above
22Solar installer$29.14$60,600$40.276,8308th of 32+7.8%14% above
23Construction laborer$28.98$60,270$45.0188,2405th of 51+17.5%28% above
24Plasterer$28.82$59,940$45.796,78013th of 28+14.2%4% above
25Painter$28.38$59,020$43.7538,4309th of 51+2.4%19% above
26Tile setter$28.31$58,880$48.008,25015th of 47-3.3%6% above
27Welder$27.91$58,060$39.4026,06024th of 51+10.5%8% above
28Machinist$27.49$57,190$42.4418,95037th of 51+5.7%3% below
29Insulation worker$23.48$48,840$50.693,08024th of 48—1% below

Construction jobs in California

898.7kConstruction jobs2026-08
-1.4%Change over 12 months
+0.1%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k1,200k19901995200020052010201520202025899kAug 2026
Construction employment in California, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in California

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In California, 53 of 58 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $80.15/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in California

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in California?

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $67.88 an hour in May 2025, followed by construction managers ($64.02) and electrical power-line installers and repairers ($62.04).

How does California compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 29 trades listed, 27 pay above the national median in California and 2 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 110.7% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, California.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-08.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities.
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).