Skilled Wages

Highest-paying trades in Washington

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 Washington, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60$80/hrConstruction manager: $74.55 (cost-of-living adjusted $69.67)Construction manager$74.55Elevator mechanic: $65.95 (cost-of-living adjusted $61.64)Elevator mechanic$65.95Lineman: $63.97 (cost-of-living adjusted $59.79)Lineman$63.97Construction supervisor: $52.68 (cost-of-living adjusted $49.23)Construction supervisor$52.68Ironworker: $51.76 (cost-of-living adjusted $48.37)Ironworker$51.76Crane operator: $48.61 (cost-of-living adjusted $45.43)Crane operator$48.61Sheet metal worker: $47.38 (cost-of-living adjusted $44.28)Sheet metal worker$47.38Electrician: $45.78 (cost-of-living adjusted $42.79)Electrician$45.78Boilermaker: $45.77 (cost-of-living adjusted $42.78)Boilermaker$45.77Brickmason: $40.00 (cost-of-living adjusted $37.38)Brickmason$40.00Heavy equipment operator: $39.28 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.71)Heavy equipment operator$39.28Plumber: $38.96 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.41)Plumber$38.96Tile setter: $37.46 (cost-of-living adjusted $35.01)Tile setter$37.46Diesel mechanic: $37.45 (cost-of-living adjusted $35.00)Diesel mechanic$37.45Cement mason: $37.27 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.83)Cement mason$37.27Millwright: $36.77 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.36)Millwright$36.77Wind turbine technician: $36.48 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.09)Wind turbine technician$36.48HVAC technician: $36.38 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.00)HVAC technician$36.38Carpenter: $35.67 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.34)Carpenter$35.67Drywall installer: $35.16 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.86)Drywall installer$35.16Insulation worker: $32.57 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.44)Insulation worker$32.57Glazier: $32.14 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.04)Glazier$32.14Machinist: $31.81 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.73)Machinist$31.81Welder: $30.30 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.32)Welder$30.30Solar installer: $29.63 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.69)Solar installer$29.63Roofer: $29.16 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.25)Roofer$29.16Painter: $28.68 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.80)Painter$28.68Construction laborer: $27.75 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.93)Construction laborer$27.75Plasterer: $24.92 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.29)Plasterer$24.92
Median hourly wage by trade in Washington, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Construction manager$74.55$155,070$104.776,0102nd of 51+22.6%35% above
2Elevator mechanic$65.95$137,180$77.135407th of 37-6.4%25% above
3Lineman$63.97$133,060$71.062,3402nd of 51+10.5%40% above
4Construction supervisor$52.68$109,570$80.3419,5501st of 51+8.6%37% above
5Ironworker$51.76$107,660$62.018503rd of 50-4.9%72% above
6Crane operator$48.61$101,110$64.211,0304th of 50+4.9%49% above
7Sheet metal worker$47.38$98,550$71.763,4401st of 50+24.7%59% above
8Electrician$45.78$95,220$64.4019,3804th of 51+10.6%51% above
9Boilermaker$45.77$95,200$61.081908th of 37+23.7%25% above
10Brickmason$40.00$83,190$54.376005th of 50-14.4%34% above
11Heavy equipment operator$39.28$81,700$60.3310,2905th of 51+4.3%36% above
12Plumber$38.96$81,030$68.2012,4708th of 51-2.0%27% above
13Tile setter$37.46$77,920$49.396603rd of 47+16.2%40% above
14Diesel mechanic$37.45$77,900$49.427,4102nd of 51+10.8%26% above
15Cement mason$37.27$77,520$60.444,4404th of 51+25.9%36% above
16Millwright$36.77$76,490$62.201,02013th of 48-8.4%16% above
17Wind turbine technician$36.48$75,880$41.262105th of 25+12.5%18% above
18HVAC technician$36.38$75,660$57.867,3707th of 51+2.7%24% above
19Carpenter$35.67$74,190$57.6526,9605th of 51+5.9%22% above
20Drywall installer$35.16$73,130$61.522,6705th of 49+9.6%24% above
21Insulation worker$32.57$67,750$63.832,3302nd of 48—38% above
22Glazier$32.14$66,860$63.111,4606th of 50-2.7%17% above
23Machinist$31.81$66,160$48.616,8805th of 51+4.6%13% above
24Welder$30.30$63,020$41.477,7205th of 51+4.0%17% above
25Solar installer$29.63$61,630$29.64—6th of 32—16% above
26Roofer$29.16$60,640$50.005,89011th of 51-6.6%9% above
27Painter$28.68$59,650$38.629,5104th of 51+12.4%21% above
28Construction laborer$27.75$57,720$45.7325,0609th of 51+8.0%22% above
29Plasterer$24.92$51,840$31.8044019th of 28-24.8%10% below

Construction jobs in Washington

223.8kConstruction jobs2026-08
-0.2%Change over 12 months
-2.3%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025224kAug 2026
Construction employment in Washington, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in Washington

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Washington, 38 of 39 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $87.78/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in Washington

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in Washington?

Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $74.55 an hour in May 2025, followed by elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($65.95) and electrical power-line installers and repairers ($63.97).

How does Washington compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 29 trades listed, 28 pay above the national median in Washington and 1 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 107.0% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

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