Skilled Wages

Highest-paying trades in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60$80/hrElevator mechanic: $56.37 (cost-of-living adjusted $57.76)Elevator mechanic$56.37Construction manager: $52.04 (cost-of-living adjusted $53.32)Construction manager$52.04Lineman: $51.07 (cost-of-living adjusted $52.33)Lineman$51.07Boilermaker: $41.75 (cost-of-living adjusted $42.78)Boilermaker$41.75Ironworker: $39.89 (cost-of-living adjusted $40.87)Ironworker$39.89Construction supervisor: $39.20 (cost-of-living adjusted $40.16)Construction supervisor$39.20Tile setter: $33.77 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.60)Tile setter$33.77Plasterer: $33.67 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.50)Plasterer$33.67Brickmason: $33.44 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.26)Brickmason$33.44Plumber: $32.73 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.53)Plumber$32.73Electrician: $32.50 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.30)Electrician$32.50Crane operator: $31.34 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.11)Crane operator$31.34Millwright: $30.96 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.72)Millwright$30.96HVAC technician: $30.00 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.74)HVAC technician$30.00Diesel mechanic: $29.68 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.41)Diesel mechanic$29.68Cement mason: $29.62 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.35)Cement mason$29.62Sheet metal worker: $29.52 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.25)Sheet metal worker$29.52Drywall installer: $29.40 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.12)Drywall installer$29.40Wind turbine technician: $29.25 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.97)Wind turbine technician$29.25Heavy equipment operator: $29.10 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.82)Heavy equipment operator$29.10Carpenter: $28.54 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.24)Carpenter$28.54Glazier: $28.27 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.97)Glazier$28.27Machinist: $27.79 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.47)Machinist$27.79Roofer: $26.79 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.45)Roofer$26.79Welder: $25.43 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.06)Welder$25.43Painter: $25.06 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.68)Painter$25.06Insulation worker: $24.33 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.93)Insulation worker$24.33Construction laborer: $23.75 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.33)Construction laborer$23.75Solar installer: $22.96 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.52)Solar installer$22.96
Median hourly wage by trade in Pennsylvania, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 97.6, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Elevator mechanic$56.37$117,250$63.7790016th of 37+47.3%7% above
2Construction manager$52.04$108,250$83.256,84029th of 51-20.0%6% below
3Lineman$51.07$106,230$58.904,15014th of 51+11.7%11% above
4Boilermaker$41.75$86,850$50.1726012th of 37+1.9%14% above
5Ironworker$39.89$82,970$53.211,61011th of 50+18.9%32% above
6Construction supervisor$39.20$81,540$64.0126,86019th of 51-10.0%2% above
7Tile setter$33.77$70,230$46.628806th of 47+31.8%26% above
8Plasterer$33.67$70,030$43.341809th of 28+11.0%21% above
9Brickmason$33.44$69,560$49.412,91015th of 50-0.9%12% above
10Plumber$32.73$68,080$64.4813,62018th of 51-3.8%7% above
11Electrician$32.50$67,600$58.9522,73022nd of 51-7.3%7% above
12Crane operator$31.34$65,190$51.141,63029th of 50+3.0%4% below
13Millwright$30.96$64,410$48.931,70025th of 48-6.5%2% below
14HVAC technician$30.00$62,400$43.0015,88020th of 51-0.2%2% above
15Diesel mechanic$29.68$61,740$38.6712,63022nd of 51+6.0%about the same as
16Cement mason$29.62$61,610$37.555,18015th of 51+4.4%8% above
17Sheet metal worker$29.52$61,400$60.783,26029th of 50-13.2%1% below
18Drywall installer$29.40$61,160$37.491,69015th of 49+2.6%4% above
19Wind turbine technician$29.25$60,830$42.285020th of 25—5% below
20Heavy equipment operator$29.10$60,530$45.6422,12029th of 51+1.3%1% above
21Carpenter$28.54$59,370$44.2930,63026th of 51+1.9%2% below
22Glazier$28.27$58,810$45.321,51024th of 50+0.3%3% above
23Machinist$27.79$57,810$37.0612,38034th of 51+5.2%2% below
24Roofer$26.79$55,710$36.873,83024th of 51+12.3%1% above
25Welder$25.43$52,900$35.9917,85030th of 51+0.9%2% below
26Painter$25.06$52,120$34.735,98020th of 51-0.7%6% above
27Insulation worker$24.33$50,600$35.3861020th of 48—3% above
28Construction laborer$23.75$49,400$35.9035,92021st of 51+5.0%5% above
29Solar installer$22.96$47,760$29.451,21026th of 32—10% below

Construction jobs in Pennsylvania

272.7kConstruction jobs2026-08
-0.8%Change over 12 months
+1.9%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-2026150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025273kAug 2026
Construction employment in Pennsylvania, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in Pennsylvania

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Pennsylvania, 58 of 62 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $82.64/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in Pennsylvania

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in Pennsylvania?

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $56.37 an hour in May 2025, followed by construction managers ($52.04) and electrical power-line installers and repairers ($51.07).

How does Pennsylvania compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 29 trades listed, 19 pay above the national median in Pennsylvania and 10 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 97.6% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

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