Highest-paying trades in Florida
28 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states and the union scale.
Every trade in Florida, ranked by median pay
| # | Trade | Median $/hr | Median $/yr | 90th pct $/hr | Jobs | State rank | 10-yr real change | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction manager | $54.39 | $113,130 | $100.70 | 34,010 | 22nd of 51 | +6.1% | 2% below |
| 2 | Elevator mechanic | $50.35 | $104,730 | $59.53 | 2,790 | 23rd of 37 | +22.5% | 5% below |
| 3 | Lineman | $41.76 | $86,870 | $52.55 | 6,420 | 36th of 51 | +25.7% | 9% below |
| 4 | Construction supervisor | $36.44 | $75,790 | $56.87 | 69,830 | 38th of 51 | +1.4% | 5% below |
| 5 | Crane operator | $34.40 | $71,560 | $45.27 | 2,570 | 21st of 50 | +5.2% | 5% above |
| 6 | Boilermaker | $33.55 | $69,790 | $35.00 | 400 | 29th of 37 | +1.2% | 9% below |
| 7 | Millwright | $29.81 | $62,000 | $42.70 | 530 | 34th of 48 | +2.6% | 6% below |
| 8 | Diesel mechanic | $29.08 | $60,490 | $38.08 | 14,900 | 30th of 51 | +3.9% | 2% below |
| 9 | Electrician | $27.52 | $57,250 | $37.10 | 49,700 | 48th of 51 | +5.1% | 9% below |
| 10 | Machinist | $27.47 | $57,140 | $36.64 | 8,400 | 38th of 51 | +11.9% | 3% below |
| 11 | HVAC technician | $27.24 | $56,670 | $37.60 | 39,160 | 41st of 51 | +10.8% | 7% below |
| 12 | Ironworker | $26.78 | $55,700 | $35.23 | 2,730 | 41st of 50 | +5.1% | 11% below |
| 13 | Plumber | $25.44 | $52,910 | $35.39 | 29,260 | 48th of 51 | +4.3% | 17% below |
| 14 | Brickmason | $25.37 | $52,760 | $33.78 | 2,610 | 41st of 50 | +11.9% | 15% below |
| 15 | Welder | $24.35 | $50,640 | $33.84 | 16,420 | 36th of 51 | +5.1% | 6% below |
| 16 | Solar installer | $24.30 | $50,550 | $36.80 | 2,980 | 15th of 32 | +27.6% | 5% below |
| 17 | Carpenter | $23.98 | $49,870 | $33.63 | 39,300 | 42nd of 51 | +5.3% | 18% below |
| 18 | Sheet metal worker | $23.87 | $49,640 | $34.49 | 8,040 | 44th of 50 | +4.5% | 20% below |
| 19 | Heavy equipment operator | $23.75 | $49,400 | $30.78 | 27,510 | 44th of 51 | +4.4% | 17% below |
| 20 | Drywall installer | $23.54 | $48,970 | $29.58 | 6,000 | 32nd of 49 | +21.0% | 17% below |
| 21 | Cement mason | $23.40 | $48,680 | $30.44 | 15,240 | 42nd of 51 | +12.7% | 15% below |
| 22 | Roofer | $22.88 | $47,590 | $30.68 | 23,550 | 37th of 51 | +12.1% | 14% below |
| 23 | Painter | $22.85 | $47,530 | $29.47 | 22,450 | 33rd of 51 | +18.0% | 4% below |
| 24 | Plasterer | $22.80 | $47,420 | $30.18 | 1,970 | 26th of 28 | +1.3% | 18% below |
| 25 | Tile setter | $22.73 | $47,280 | $34.80 | 4,070 | 34th of 47 | +11.5% | 15% below |
| 26 | Insulation worker | $22.65 | $47,100 | $31.21 | 2,690 | 34th of 48 | — | 4% below |
| 27 | Glazier | $22.61 | $47,030 | $30.39 | 6,370 | 43rd of 50 | +2.2% | 18% below |
| 28 | Construction laborer | $21.17 | $44,030 | $28.32 | 87,040 | 40th of 51 | +21.7% | 7% below |
Construction jobs in Florida
Prevailing wage in Florida
Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Florida, 40 of 67 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $47.70/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.
Metros in Florida
Questions this page answers
What is the highest-paying trade in Florida?
Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $54.39 an hour in May 2025, followed by elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($50.35) and electrical power-line installers and repairers ($41.76).
How does Florida compare with the rest of the country?
Across the 28 trades listed, 1 pay above the national median in Florida and 27 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 103.4% of the US average (BEA).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Florida.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-08.
- BEA Regional Price Parities.
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).