Skilled Wages

Highest-paying trades in District of Columbia

19 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 District of Columbia, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60$80/hrConstruction manager: $60.78 (cost-of-living adjusted $55.30)Construction manager$60.78Elevator mechanic: $58.93 (cost-of-living adjusted $53.62)Elevator mechanic$58.93Lineman: $48.67 (cost-of-living adjusted $44.29)Lineman$48.67Plumber: $48.57 (cost-of-living adjusted $44.19)Plumber$48.57Construction supervisor: $41.60 (cost-of-living adjusted $37.85)Construction supervisor$41.60HVAC technician: $40.57 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.92)HVAC technician$40.57Electrician: $37.97 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.55)Electrician$37.97Glazier: $37.69 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.29)Glazier$37.69Heavy equipment operator: $35.87 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.64)Heavy equipment operator$35.87Machinist: $35.05 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.89)Machinist$35.05Diesel mechanic: $31.34 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.52)Diesel mechanic$31.34Brickmason: $30.98 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.19)Brickmason$30.98Roofer: $29.69 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.02)Roofer$29.69Carpenter: $29.67 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.00)Carpenter$29.67Cement mason: $29.65 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.98)Cement mason$29.65Ironworker: $29.44 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.79)Ironworker$29.44Welder: $28.93 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.32)Welder$28.93Painter: $28.61 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.03)Painter$28.61Construction laborer: $24.05 (cost-of-living adjusted $21.88)Construction laborer$24.05
Median hourly wage by trade in District of Columbia, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 109.9, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Construction manager$60.78$126,430$100.811,25012th of 51-5.3%10% above
2Elevator mechanic$58.93$122,570$71.39—13th of 37—12% above
3Lineman$48.67$101,240$63.8915024th of 51+5.7%6% above
4Plumber$48.57$101,020$56.341,0101st of 51+14.5%58% above
5Construction supervisor$41.60$86,520$61.501,42014th of 51-15.7%8% above
6HVAC technician$40.57$84,390$52.044001st of 51-6.0%38% above
7Electrician$37.97$78,970$60.482,4407th of 51-7.2%25% above
8Glazier$37.69$78,390$39.752003rd of 50+10.0%37% above
9Heavy equipment operator$35.87$74,610$47.2562013th of 51-2.5%25% above
10Machinist$35.05$72,900$47.521603rd of 51-8.8%24% above
11Diesel mechanic$31.34$65,200$44.7311016th of 51-9.4%6% above
12Brickmason$30.98$64,450$48.6320022nd of 50-18.0%4% above
13Roofer$29.69$61,750$48.831009th of 51+20.7%11% above
14Carpenter$29.67$61,710$38.811,54018th of 51-5.5%2% above
15Cement mason$29.65$61,680$41.8832013th of 51-2.8%8% above
16Ironworker$29.44$61,240$44.7421030th of 50-23.3%2% below
17Welder$28.93$60,180$36.3428015th of 51-23.0%12% above
18Painter$28.61$59,520$39.135006th of 51-10.4%20% above
19Construction laborer$24.05$50,020$34.772,09017th of 51-3.9%6% above

Construction jobs in District of Columbia

14.3kConstruction jobs2026-08
+2.1%Change over 12 months
-4.7%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-20265k8k10k12k15k18k1990199520002005201020152020202514kAug 2026
Construction employment in District of Columbia, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in District of Columbia

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In District of Columbia, 1 of 1 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $82.56/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in District of Columbia

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in District of Columbia?

Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $60.78 an hour in May 2025, followed by elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($58.93) and electrical power-line installers and repairers ($48.67).

How does District of Columbia compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 19 trades listed, 18 pay above the national median in District of Columbia and 1 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 109.9% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

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