Skilled Wages

Highest-paying and most in-demand trades in North Carolina

28 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 North Carolina, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60/hrElevator mechanic: $51.78 (cost-of-living adjusted $54.91)Elevator mechanic$51.78Construction manager: $51.27 (cost-of-living adjusted $54.37)Construction manager$51.27Lineman: $37.15 (cost-of-living adjusted $39.40)Lineman$37.15Construction supervisor: $36.19 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.38)Construction supervisor$36.19Wind turbine technician: $31.91 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.84)Wind turbine technician$31.91Crane operator: $31.00 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.87)Crane operator$31.00Millwright: $30.29 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.12)Millwright$30.29Diesel mechanic: $27.64 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.31)Diesel mechanic$27.64HVAC technician: $27.53 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.19)HVAC technician$27.53Plumber: $27.44 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.10)Plumber$27.44Electrician: $27.31 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.96)Electrician$27.31Machinist: $26.56 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.17)Machinist$26.56Sheet metal worker: $24.39 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.86)Sheet metal worker$24.39Welder: $24.32 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.79)Welder$24.32Brickmason: $24.01 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.46)Brickmason$24.01Boilermaker: $23.90 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.34)Boilermaker$23.90Heavy equipment operator: $23.71 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.14)Heavy equipment operator$23.71Carpenter: $23.61 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.04)Carpenter$23.61Roofer: $23.56 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.98)Roofer$23.56Ironworker: $23.43 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.85)Ironworker$23.43Cement mason: $22.49 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.85)Cement mason$22.49Glazier: $22.20 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.54)Glazier$22.20Drywall installer: $21.67 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.98)Drywall installer$21.67Construction laborer: $21.50 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.80)Construction laborer$21.50Tile setter: $21.47 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.77)Tile setter$21.47Painter: $21.21 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.49)Painter$21.21Solar installer: $21.09 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.36)Solar installer$21.09Insulation worker: $20.67 (cost-of-living adjusted $21.92)Insulation worker$20.67
Median hourly wage by trade in North Carolina, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 94.3, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Elevator mechanic$51.78$107,700$59.5024020th of 37+9.5%2% below
2Construction manager$51.27$106,640$84.9516,31031st of 51-10.5%7% below
3Lineman$37.15$77,270$50.695,65043rd of 51+6.8%19% below
4Construction supervisor$36.19$75,270$50.4132,46043rd of 51+0.2%6% below
5Wind turbine technician$31.91$66,380$47.3112011th of 25—4% above
6Crane operator$31.00$64,480$39.771,05030th of 50-2.7%5% below
7Millwright$30.29$62,990$36.8770029th of 48+3.2%4% below
8Diesel mechanic$27.64$57,490$36.6511,07044th of 51+2.7%7% below
9HVAC technician$27.53$57,260$37.1015,23040th of 51+7.9%6% below
10Plumber$27.44$57,080$36.4714,51044th of 51+6.1%11% below
11Electrician$27.31$56,800$36.0921,64049th of 51+5.1%10% below
12Machinist$26.56$55,230$36.338,33042nd of 51+4.5%6% below
13Sheet metal worker$24.39$50,730$37.512,78040th of 50+5.5%18% below
14Welder$24.32$50,590$34.2511,75037th of 51-1.8%6% below
15Brickmason$24.01$49,940$29.611,76044th of 50+2.4%20% below
16Boilermaker$23.90$49,720$38.3515036th of 37-24.0%35% below
17Heavy equipment operator$23.71$49,310$30.9816,58045th of 51+3.4%18% below
18Carpenter$23.61$49,100$30.3613,48044th of 51+5.2%19% below
19Roofer$23.56$49,010$29.143,06030th of 51+18.9%12% below
20Ironworker$23.43$48,740$38.042,00046th of 50-2.4%22% below
21Cement mason$22.49$46,780$28.994,61046th of 51+4.7%18% below
22Glazier$22.20$46,170$29.2584045th of 50-2.3%19% below
23Drywall installer$21.67$45,080$28.931,52044th of 49-2.2%24% below
24Construction laborer$21.50$44,720$28.8335,62039th of 51+26.1%5% below
25Tile setter$21.47$44,650$27.9368040th of 47-12.5%20% below
26Painter$21.21$44,110$28.035,22046th of 51+3.9%11% below
27Solar installer$21.09$43,860$28.9371031st of 32-6.0%17% below
28Insulation worker$20.67$42,990$28.882,09044th of 48—12% below

Most in-demand trades in North Carolina

By the North Carolina labor market agency's 2024–2034 projections, the fastest-growing trades are solar installers (+45.4%), tile setters (+10.9%), electricians (+10.4%). The most openings a year, counting replacements as well as growth, come from construction laborers (4,740 a year), construction supervisors (2,940 a year), electricians (2,590 a year). The largest specialty-contractor group in the state is building equipment contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), with 92,194 jobs (2025 annual average, QCEW).

TradeProjected change 2024–2034Openings a yearJobs in 2024Median $/hr
Solar installer+45.4%110730$21.09
Tile setter+10.9%70840$21.47
Electrician+10.4%2,59025,830$27.31
Construction manager+9.5%2,30026,730$51.27
HVAC technician+9.3%1,40014,550$27.53
Construction laborer+7.9%4,74052,940$21.50
Roofer+6.5%3204,120$23.56
Elevator mechanic+6.2%30390$51.78
Welder+6.2%1,37012,960$24.32
Lineman+6.1%4104,970$37.15
Construction supervisor+5.8%2,94036,160$36.19
Plumber+5.6%1,39015,620$27.44

Source: North Carolina 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 North Carolina

296.4kConstruction jobs2026-09
+6.0%Change over 12 months
+24.7%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025296kSep 2026
Construction employment in North Carolina, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in North Carolina

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In North Carolina, 32 of 100 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $45.41/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in North Carolina

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in North Carolina?

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $51.78 an hour in May 2025, followed by construction managers ($51.27) and linemen ($37.15).

Which trades are in highest demand in North Carolina?

By projected growth between 2024 and 2034, solar installers (+45.4%), tile setters (+10.9%), electricians (+10.4%). By openings a year, construction laborers (4,740 a year), construction supervisors (2,940 a year), electricians (2,590 a year). The figures come from North Carolina's labor market agency via Projections Central and count replacement openings as well as new jobs.

How does North Carolina compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 28 trades listed, 1 pay above the national median in North Carolina and 27 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 94.3% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

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