Skilled Wages

Highest-paying and most in-demand trades in New York

29 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 New York, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60$80/hrConstruction manager: $74.69 (cost-of-living adjusted $69.22)Construction manager$74.69Elevator mechanic: $65.25 (cost-of-living adjusted $60.47)Elevator mechanic$65.25Lineman: $58.31 (cost-of-living adjusted $54.04)Lineman$58.31Plasterer: $57.78 (cost-of-living adjusted $53.55)Plasterer$57.78Construction supervisor: $46.01 (cost-of-living adjusted $42.64)Construction supervisor$46.01Ironworker: $44.52 (cost-of-living adjusted $41.26)Ironworker$44.52Crane operator: $41.27 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.25)Crane operator$41.27Boilermaker: $40.76 (cost-of-living adjusted $37.78)Boilermaker$40.76Brickmason: $40.58 (cost-of-living adjusted $37.61)Brickmason$40.58Wind turbine technician: $39.10 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.24)Wind turbine technician$39.10Heavy equipment operator: $38.94 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.09)Heavy equipment operator$38.94Millwright: $38.25 (cost-of-living adjusted $35.45)Millwright$38.25Electrician: $37.86 (cost-of-living adjusted $35.09)Electrician$37.86Plumber: $37.26 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.53)Plumber$37.26HVAC technician: $35.78 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.16)HVAC technician$35.78Sheet metal worker: $35.46 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.86)Sheet metal worker$35.46Carpenter: $34.77 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.22)Carpenter$34.77Diesel mechanic: $33.70 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.23)Diesel mechanic$33.70Roofer: $31.74 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.42)Roofer$31.74Cement mason: $30.79 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.54)Cement mason$30.79Glazier: $29.69 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.52)Glazier$29.69Drywall installer: $29.46 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.30)Drywall installer$29.46Tile setter: $29.45 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.29)Tile setter$29.45Machinist: $29.29 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.15)Machinist$29.29Painter: $28.64 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.54)Painter$28.64Welder: $28.43 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.35)Welder$28.43Insulation worker: $28.41 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.33)Insulation worker$28.41Solar installer: $27.00 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.02)Solar installer$27.00Construction laborer: $26.89 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.92)Construction laborer$26.89
Median hourly wage by trade in New York, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 107.9, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Construction manager$74.69$155,360$117.5910,2801st of 51+9.2%35% above
2Elevator mechanic$65.25$135,720$80.953,4708th of 37+16.2%23% above
3Lineman$58.31$121,280$67.875,8408th of 51+12.7%27% above
4Plasterer$57.78$120,180$57.79—1st of 28+4.6%108% above
5Construction supervisor$46.01$95,700$67.4129,60011th of 51-11.9%20% above
6Ironworker$44.52$92,610$62.102,70010th of 50-23.7%48% above
7Crane operator$41.27$85,850$104.091,1509th of 50-7.5%26% above
8Boilermaker$40.76$84,770$65.6441015th of 37-15.2%11% above
9Brickmason$40.58$84,410$61.533,7904th of 50-0.1%36% above
10Wind turbine technician$39.10$81,330$46.723901st of 25+24.9%27% above
11Heavy equipment operator$38.94$80,980$69.6714,4906th of 51-4.8%35% above
12Millwright$38.25$79,560$46.731,0007th of 48-0.1%21% above
13Electrician$37.86$78,750$63.2940,1308th of 51-14.3%25% above
14Plumber$37.26$77,490$62.7023,21013th of 51-12.4%21% above
15HVAC technician$35.78$74,430$48.4024,43010th of 51+9.5%22% above
16Sheet metal worker$35.46$73,760$60.626,57011th of 50-12.8%19% above
17Carpenter$34.77$72,330$58.8440,6307th of 51+2.4%19% above
18Diesel mechanic$33.70$70,100$43.3113,23010th of 51+1.3%13% above
19Roofer$31.74$66,020$45.694,5706th of 51+10.6%19% above
20Cement mason$30.79$64,040$49.509,0608th of 51-23.9%12% above
21Glazier$29.69$61,760$49.873,40015th of 50-14.5%8% above
22Drywall installer$29.46$61,280$56.952,84014th of 49-19.8%4% above
23Tile setter$29.45$61,260$46.492,99011th of 47-33.3%10% above
24Machinist$29.29$60,920$40.609,40020th of 51+6.3%4% above
25Painter$28.64$59,570$53.6313,0405th of 51-5.4%21% above
26Welder$28.43$59,140$41.888,31020th of 51+8.5%10% above
27Insulation worker$28.41$59,100$47.211,6005th of 48—20% above
28Solar installer$27.00$56,160$35.951,23012th of 32+16.2%6% above
29Construction laborer$26.89$55,930$46.4452,09014th of 51+6.0%19% above

Most in-demand trades in New York

By the New York labor market agency's 2024–2034 projections, the fastest-growing trades are wind turbine technicians (+64.9%), linemen (+10.1%), construction managers (+6.5%). The most openings a year, counting replacements as well as growth, come from construction laborers (5,980 a year), carpenters (4,170 a year), electricians (4,020 a year). The largest specialty-contractor group in the state is building equipment contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), with 136,652 jobs (2025 annual average, QCEW).

TradeProjected change 2024–2034Openings a yearJobs in 2024Median $/hr
Wind turbine technician+64.9%110570$39.10
Lineman+10.1%5606,350$58.31
Construction manager+6.5%1,61019,640$74.69
Electrician+3.3%4,02044,520$37.86
Construction laborer+2.9%5,98072,360$26.89
HVAC technician+1.6%2,06024,210$35.78
Tile setter+1.6%2703,890$29.45
Plasterer+1.5%801,020$57.78
Diesel mechanic+1.5%1,44017,640$33.70
Construction supervisor+0.6%2,94039,560$46.01
Roofer+0.5%4206,120$31.74
Crane operator+0.2%1101,340$41.27

Source: New York 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 New York

396.1kConstruction jobs2026-09
-0.2%Change over 12 months
+2.0%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k200k300k400k500k19901995200020052010201520202025396kSep 2026
Construction employment in New York, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in New York

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In New York, 56 of 61 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $76.75/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in New York

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in New York?

Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $74.69 an hour in May 2025, followed by elevator mechanics ($65.25) and linemen ($58.31).

Which trades are in highest demand in New York?

By projected growth between 2024 and 2034, wind turbine technicians (+64.9%), linemen (+10.1%), construction managers (+6.5%). By openings a year, construction laborers (5,980 a year), carpenters (4,170 a year), electricians (4,020 a year). The figures come from New York's labor market agency via Projections Central and count replacement openings as well as new jobs.

How does New York compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 29 trades listed, 29 pay above the national median in New York and 0 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 107.9% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

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