Skilled Wages

Highest-paying and most in-demand trades in Massachusetts

26 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states, the union scale and the state's own projection of which trades are growing.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025

Every trade in Massachusetts, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60$80/hrConstruction manager: $69.71 (cost-of-living adjusted $65.89)Construction manager$69.71Elevator mechanic: $66.55 (cost-of-living adjusted $62.90)Elevator mechanic$66.55Ironworker: $58.10 (cost-of-living adjusted $54.91)Ironworker$58.10Lineman: $52.99 (cost-of-living adjusted $50.09)Lineman$52.99Glazier: $48.47 (cost-of-living adjusted $45.81)Glazier$48.47Crane operator: $47.19 (cost-of-living adjusted $44.60)Crane operator$47.19Construction supervisor: $47.04 (cost-of-living adjusted $44.46)Construction supervisor$47.04Brickmason: $45.65 (cost-of-living adjusted $43.15)Brickmason$45.65Plumber: $45.14 (cost-of-living adjusted $42.67)Plumber$45.14Sheet metal worker: $39.47 (cost-of-living adjusted $37.31)Sheet metal worker$39.47Tile setter: $39.02 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.88)Tile setter$39.02Electrician: $38.18 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.09)Electrician$38.18HVAC technician: $37.16 (cost-of-living adjusted $35.12)HVAC technician$37.16Heavy equipment operator: $36.93 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.91)Heavy equipment operator$36.93Carpenter: $36.16 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.18)Carpenter$36.16Diesel mechanic: $35.23 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.30)Diesel mechanic$35.23Roofer: $34.98 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.06)Roofer$34.98Drywall installer: $33.42 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.59)Drywall installer$33.42Machinist: $32.34 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.57)Machinist$32.34Millwright: $31.36 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.64)Millwright$31.36Cement mason: $30.69 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.01)Cement mason$30.69Construction laborer: $30.48 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.81)Construction laborer$30.48Welder: $30.08 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.43)Welder$30.08Solar installer: $28.45 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.89)Solar installer$28.45Painter: $27.65 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.13)Painter$27.65Insulation worker: $23.53 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.24)Insulation worker$23.53
Median hourly wage by trade in Massachusetts, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 105.8, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Construction manager$69.71$145,010$104.299,8703rd of 51+4.5%26% above
2Elevator mechanic$66.55$138,420$74.17—5th of 37+18.2%26% above
3Ironworker$58.10$120,840$61.582,0501st of 50+28.2%93% above
4Lineman$52.99$110,210$61.362,35010th of 51-6.7%16% above
5Glazier$48.47$100,810$53.201,0801st of 50+52.8%77% above
6Crane operator$47.19$98,150$62.406806th of 50+44.9%44% above
7Construction supervisor$47.04$97,850$64.8218,3308th of 51-3.2%22% above
8Brickmason$45.65$94,950$65.801,5702nd of 50-4.1%53% above
9Plumber$45.14$93,880$64.9413,4606th of 51+9.2%47% above
10Sheet metal worker$39.47$82,100$58.202,8906th of 50+11.3%33% above
11Tile setter$39.02$81,150$50.084101st of 47-30.0%46% above
12Electrician$38.18$79,420$61.6417,8106th of 51-6.9%26% above
13HVAC technician$37.16$77,300$49.238,2004th of 51+0.7%27% above
14Heavy equipment operator$36.93$76,820$60.299,68011th of 51-11.5%28% above
15Carpenter$36.16$75,200$59.0818,5404th of 51-0.8%24% above
16Diesel mechanic$35.23$73,270$47.824,8706th of 51+0.9%19% above
17Roofer$34.98$72,750$51.101,9504th of 51+15.6%31% above
18Drywall installer$33.42$69,500$45.105906th of 49+8.0%18% above
19Machinist$32.34$67,270$44.877,0804th of 51+3.8%15% above
20Millwright$31.36$65,220$37.79—23rd of 48-17.0%1% below
21Cement mason$30.69$63,840$53.811,5909th of 51+7.5%12% above
22Construction laborer$30.48$63,390$47.5416,2103rd of 51-5.2%35% above
23Welder$30.08$62,570$40.112,8306th of 51+2.7%16% above
24Solar installer$28.45$59,180$36.6762010th of 32+7.2%11% above
25Painter$27.65$57,510$52.814,43013th of 51-0.9%16% above
26Insulation worker$23.53$48,940$28.5171023rd of 48—about the same as

Most in-demand trades in Massachusetts

By the Massachusetts labor market agency's 2024–2034 projections, the fastest-growing trades are crane operators (+16.1%), linemen (+13.3%), electricians (+11.6%). The most openings a year, counting replacements as well as growth, come from construction laborers (2,060 a year), carpenters (2,050 a year), construction supervisors (1,880 a year). The largest specialty-contractor group in the state is building equipment contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), with 59,764 jobs (2025 annual average, QCEW).

TradeProjected change 2024–2034Openings a yearJobs in 2024Median $/hr
Crane operator+16.1%50450$47.19
Lineman+13.3%2402,520$52.99
Electrician+11.6%1,79017,570$38.18
Construction manager+10.9%1,21013,730$69.71
HVAC technician+9.9%8008,220$37.16
Construction laborer+9.5%2,06022,430$30.48
Construction supervisor+7.9%1,88022,290$47.04
Roofer+7.7%2102,630$34.98
Elevator mechanic+7.2%40490$66.55
Plumber+6.5%1,50016,650$45.14
Heavy equipment operator+6.3%93010,360$36.93
Carpenter+6.3%2,05025,670$36.16

Source: Massachusetts long-term occupational projections via Projections Central; state counts include the self-employed. Projections, not guarantees; see each trade page for the national BLS outlook.

Construction jobs in Massachusetts

172.1kConstruction jobs2026-09
+1.4%Change over 12 months
+1.2%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025172kSep 2026
Construction employment in Massachusetts, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in Massachusetts

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Massachusetts, 14 of 14 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $84.36/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in Massachusetts

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in Massachusetts?

Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $69.71 an hour in May 2025, followed by elevator mechanics ($66.55) and ironworkers ($58.10).

Which trades are in highest demand in Massachusetts?

By projected growth between 2024 and 2034, crane operators (+16.1%), linemen (+13.3%), electricians (+11.6%). By openings a year, construction laborers (2,060 a year), carpenters (2,050 a year), construction supervisors (1,880 a year). The figures come from Massachusetts's labor market agency via Projections Central and count replacement openings as well as new jobs.

How does Massachusetts compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 26 trades listed, 24 pay above the national median in Massachusetts and 2 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 105.8% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Massachusetts.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-09.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities.
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).