Skilled Wages

Highest-paying and most in-demand trades in Oregon

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 Oregon, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60$80/hrElevator mechanic: $66.64 (cost-of-living adjusted $64.45)Elevator mechanic$66.64Construction manager: $63.18 (cost-of-living adjusted $61.10)Construction manager$63.18Lineman: $63.02 (cost-of-living adjusted $60.95)Lineman$63.02Construction supervisor: $49.55 (cost-of-living adjusted $47.92)Construction supervisor$49.55Electrician: $48.71 (cost-of-living adjusted $47.11)Electrician$48.71Plumber: $46.66 (cost-of-living adjusted $45.13)Plumber$46.66Ironworker: $46.18 (cost-of-living adjusted $44.66)Ironworker$46.18Crane operator: $40.03 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.71)Crane operator$40.03Brickmason: $38.20 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.94)Brickmason$38.20Sheet metal worker: $35.46 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.29)Sheet metal worker$35.46Drywall installer: $35.35 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.19)Drywall installer$35.35Heavy equipment operator: $35.30 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.14)Heavy equipment operator$35.30Plasterer: $34.22 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.09)Plasterer$34.22Glazier: $34.08 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.96)Glazier$34.08Millwright: $33.99 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.87)Millwright$33.99Cement mason: $32.95 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.87)Cement mason$32.95Solar installer: $31.88 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.83)Solar installer$31.88Diesel mechanic: $30.76 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.75)Diesel mechanic$30.76Machinist: $30.68 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.67)Machinist$30.68HVAC technician: $30.26 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.26)HVAC technician$30.26Carpenter: $30.23 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.24)Carpenter$30.23Wind turbine technician: $29.72 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.74)Wind turbine technician$29.72Insulation worker: $28.95 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.00)Insulation worker$28.95Welder: $28.58 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.64)Welder$28.58Roofer: $28.35 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.42)Roofer$28.35Tile setter: $28.27 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.34)Tile setter$28.27Construction laborer: $24.45 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.65)Construction laborer$24.45Painter: $23.51 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.74)Painter$23.51
Median hourly wage by trade in Oregon, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 103.4, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Elevator mechanic$66.64$138,600$76.562304th of 37-3.5%26% above
2Construction manager$63.18$131,420$100.744,3008th of 51+11.0%14% above
3Lineman$63.02$131,090$73.971,6403rd of 51+8.9%38% above
4Construction supervisor$49.55$103,070$74.127,8904th of 51+21.5%29% above
5Electrician$48.71$101,310$63.2410,5901st of 51+11.2%60% above
6Plumber$46.66$97,050$70.725,3703rd of 51-1.6%52% above
7Ironworker$46.18$96,050$58.115707th of 50+22.4%53% above
8Crane operator$40.03$83,260$63.6634010th of 50+18.9%22% above
9Brickmason$38.20$79,450$49.236508th of 50+11.8%28% above
10Sheet metal worker$35.46$73,750$57.983,25012th of 50+15.4%19% above
11Drywall installer$35.35$73,530$55.131,6804th of 49+31.4%25% above
12Heavy equipment operator$35.30$73,430$56.405,63014th of 51+5.5%23% above
13Plasterer$34.22$71,180$47.031708th of 28+37.5%23% above
14Glazier$34.08$70,890$52.767005th of 50+37.3%24% above
15Millwright$33.99$70,700$53.1046016th of 48+5.1%8% above
16Cement mason$32.95$68,530$45.452,1705th of 51+31.0%20% above
17Solar installer$31.88$66,320$42.003604th of 32+27.8%25% above
18Diesel mechanic$30.76$63,970$43.613,77019th of 51+3.4%4% above
19Machinist$30.68$63,820$41.632,7606th of 51+0.9%9% above
20HVAC technician$30.26$62,940$45.443,98018th of 51+0.5%3% above
21Carpenter$30.23$62,870$51.1315,11013th of 51+7.5%4% above
22Wind turbine technician$29.72$61,820$42.0715019th of 25—4% below
23Insulation worker$28.95$60,210$38.537004th of 48—23% above
24Welder$28.58$59,450$38.095,24018th of 51+6.5%11% above
25Roofer$28.35$58,970$46.013,43021st of 51+11.3%6% above
26Tile setter$28.27$58,790$39.4079016th of 47+17.7%6% above
27Construction laborer$24.45$50,860$37.7012,62015th of 51+12.6%8% above
28Painter$23.51$48,900$35.365,41028th of 51+7.3%1% below

Most in-demand trades in Oregon

By the Oregon labor market agency's 2024–2034 projections, the fastest-growing trades are wind turbine technicians (+40.2%), solar installers (+33.5%), HVAC technicians (+14.7%). The most openings a year, counting replacements as well as growth, come from carpenters (1,890 a year), construction laborers (1,590 a year), electricians (1,110 a year). The largest specialty-contractor group in the state is building equipment contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), with 33,242 jobs (2025 annual average, QCEW).

TradeProjected change 2024–2034Openings a yearJobs in 2024Median $/hr
Wind turbine technician+40.2%30190$29.72
Solar installer+33.5%30240$31.88
HVAC technician+14.7%4003,890$30.26
Construction manager+13.8%6306,890$63.18
Construction laborer+13.4%1,59016,370$24.45
Roofer+13.2%3604,150$28.35
Tile setter+12.4%1401,700$28.27
Electrician+12.1%1,11010,810$48.71
Plumber+11.7%6406,640$46.66
Construction supervisor+11.5%95010,630$49.55
Drywall installer+11.3%1702,070$35.35
Ironworker+11.2%50550$46.18

Source: Oregon 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 Oregon

117.9kConstruction jobs2026-09
+3.1%Change over 12 months
+4.1%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-202625k50k75k100k125k150k19901995200020052010201520202025118kSep 2026
Construction employment in Oregon, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in Oregon

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Oregon, 20 of 36 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $79.51/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in Oregon

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in Oregon?

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $66.64 an hour in May 2025, followed by construction managers ($63.18) and linemen ($63.02).

Which trades are in highest demand in Oregon?

By projected growth between 2024 and 2034, wind turbine technicians (+40.2%), solar installers (+33.5%), HVAC technicians (+14.7%). By openings a year, carpenters (1,890 a year), construction laborers (1,590 a year), electricians (1,110 a year). The figures come from Oregon's labor market agency via Projections Central and count replacement openings as well as new jobs.

How does Oregon compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 28 trades listed, 26 pay above the national median in Oregon and 2 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, Oregon.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-09.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities.
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).