Skilled Wages

Highest-paying trades in Ohio

29 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 Ohio, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60/hrElevator mechanic: $50.49 (cost-of-living adjusted $54.41)Elevator mechanic$50.49Construction manager: $49.03 (cost-of-living adjusted $52.83)Construction manager$49.03Lineman: $44.78 (cost-of-living adjusted $48.25)Lineman$44.78Boilermaker: $41.13 (cost-of-living adjusted $44.32)Boilermaker$41.13Construction supervisor: $38.26 (cost-of-living adjusted $41.23)Construction supervisor$38.26Sheet metal worker: $35.96 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.75)Sheet metal worker$35.96Ironworker: $35.92 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.71)Ironworker$35.92Wind turbine technician: $35.52 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.28)Wind turbine technician$35.52Millwright: $35.20 (cost-of-living adjusted $37.93)Millwright$35.20Brickmason: $34.11 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.76)Brickmason$34.11Heavy equipment operator: $31.22 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.64)Heavy equipment operator$31.22Electrician: $31.11 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.52)Electrician$31.11Plumber: $30.45 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.81)Plumber$30.45Cement mason: $30.28 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.63)Cement mason$30.28HVAC technician: $30.06 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.39)HVAC technician$30.06Solar installer: $30.00 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.33)Solar installer$30.00Plasterer: $29.90 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.22)Plasterer$29.90Drywall installer: $29.53 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.82)Drywall installer$29.53Carpenter: $29.24 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.51)Carpenter$29.24Diesel mechanic: $29.07 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.33)Diesel mechanic$29.07Glazier: $28.94 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.19)Glazier$28.94Insulation worker: $28.08 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.26)Insulation worker$28.08Machinist: $27.86 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.02)Machinist$27.86Crane operator: $27.70 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.85)Crane operator$27.70Construction laborer: $26.96 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.05)Construction laborer$26.96Welder: $24.20 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.08)Welder$24.20Painter: $23.77 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.61)Painter$23.77Roofer: $23.74 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.58)Roofer$23.74Tile setter: $22.18 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.90)Tile setter$22.18
Median hourly wage by trade in Ohio, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 92.8, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Elevator mechanic$50.49$105,020$59.3669022nd of 37-6.5%4% below
2Construction manager$49.03$101,980$77.6016,13041st of 51-11.7%11% below
3Lineman$44.78$93,150$53.734,26032nd of 51+2.3%2% below
4Boilermaker$41.13$85,550$50.6930013th of 37+8.6%12% above
5Construction supervisor$38.26$79,580$51.4723,64025th of 51-1.9%about the same as
6Sheet metal worker$35.96$74,790$45.314,18010th of 50+22.5%21% above
7Ironworker$35.92$74,710$42.722,29017th of 50-5.2%19% above
8Wind turbine technician$35.52$73,880$45.701208th of 25—15% above
9Millwright$35.20$73,220$44.121,93015th of 48-13.7%11% above
10Brickmason$34.11$70,950$40.292,77014th of 50+1.1%14% above
11Heavy equipment operator$31.22$64,940$47.1716,92016th of 51-2.2%8% above
12Electrician$31.11$64,700$47.7328,95027th of 51-4.1%2% above
13Plumber$30.45$63,330$48.7516,39029th of 51-10.0%1% below
14Cement mason$30.28$62,990$39.106,06010th of 51+12.8%10% above
15HVAC technician$30.06$62,510$47.2614,15019th of 51+4.2%2% above
16Solar installer$30.00$62,400$33.73705th of 32+22.0%17% above
17Plasterer$29.90$62,200$33.0418012th of 28+10.9%8% above
18Drywall installer$29.53$61,420$35.771,68012th of 49+25.2%4% above
19Carpenter$29.24$60,810$39.0118,45024th of 51+2.3%about the same as
20Diesel mechanic$29.07$60,470$37.5614,24031st of 51+1.3%2% below
21Glazier$28.94$60,200$35.941,67019th of 50+2.4%5% above
22Insulation worker$28.08$58,400$38.478707th of 48—19% above
23Machinist$27.86$57,940$36.7917,11032nd of 51+7.6%1% below
24Crane operator$27.70$57,620$47.371,78046th of 50+12.4%15% below
25Construction laborer$26.96$56,080$38.0431,91013th of 51+12.4%19% above
26Welder$24.20$50,340$33.9020,33040th of 51+2.0%6% below
27Painter$23.77$49,450$35.775,60026th of 51-2.2%about the same as
28Roofer$23.74$49,390$36.224,61029th of 51-2.1%11% below
29Tile setter$22.18$46,140$34.6467036th of 47-30.7%17% below

Construction jobs in Ohio

289.4kConstruction jobs2026-08
+7.0%Change over 12 months
+22.9%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-2026100k150k200k250k300k350k19901995200020052010201520202025289kAug 2026
Construction employment in Ohio, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in Ohio

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Ohio, 74 of 88 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $69.93/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in Ohio

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in Ohio?

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $50.49 an hour in May 2025, followed by construction managers ($49.03) and electrical power-line installers and repairers ($44.78).

How does Ohio compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 29 trades listed, 18 pay above the national median in Ohio and 11 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 92.8% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

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