Skilled Wages

Highest-paying and most in-demand trades in Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60$80/hrConstruction manager: $54.90 (cost-of-living adjusted $58.34)Construction manager$54.90Lineman: $50.88 (cost-of-living adjusted $54.07)Lineman$50.88Boilermaker: $46.92 (cost-of-living adjusted $49.86)Boilermaker$46.92Ironworker: $44.63 (cost-of-living adjusted $47.43)Ironworker$44.63Construction supervisor: $41.03 (cost-of-living adjusted $43.60)Construction supervisor$41.03Millwright: $39.73 (cost-of-living adjusted $42.22)Millwright$39.73Plumber: $39.04 (cost-of-living adjusted $41.49)Plumber$39.04Brickmason: $38.52 (cost-of-living adjusted $40.94)Brickmason$38.52Sheet metal worker: $37.38 (cost-of-living adjusted $39.72)Sheet metal worker$37.38Elevator mechanic: $37.33 (cost-of-living adjusted $39.67)Elevator mechanic$37.33Electrician: $36.80 (cost-of-living adjusted $39.11)Electrician$36.80Heavy equipment operator: $36.19 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.46)Heavy equipment operator$36.19Crane operator: $32.56 (cost-of-living adjusted $34.60)Crane operator$32.56Cement mason: $30.89 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.83)Cement mason$30.89Tile setter: $30.14 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.03)Tile setter$30.14Diesel mechanic: $30.02 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.90)Diesel mechanic$30.02Glazier: $30.00 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.88)Glazier$30.00HVAC technician: $29.67 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.53)HVAC technician$29.67Carpenter: $29.65 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.51)Carpenter$29.65Drywall installer: $28.83 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.64)Drywall installer$28.83Roofer: $28.54 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.33)Roofer$28.54Machinist: $28.42 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.20)Machinist$28.42Welder: $28.08 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.84)Welder$28.08Construction laborer: $26.97 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.66)Construction laborer$26.97Plasterer: $24.37 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.90)Plasterer$24.37Painter: $24.08 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.59)Painter$24.08Solar installer: $23.93 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.43)Solar installer$23.93Insulation worker: $23.81 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.30)Insulation worker$23.81
Median hourly wage by trade in Wisconsin, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Construction manager$54.90$114,190$81.596,08021st of 51-10.3%1% below
2Lineman$50.88$105,820$57.622,52017th of 51+7.3%11% above
3Boilermaker$46.92$97,590$49.551706th of 37+5.6%28% above
4Ironworker$44.63$92,820$48.167109th of 50+1.1%48% above
5Construction supervisor$41.03$85,350$59.0815,15015th of 51-0.2%7% above
6Millwright$39.73$82,630$44.851,2204th of 48+13.1%26% above
7Plumber$39.04$81,210$57.7210,2107th of 51-12.4%27% above
8Brickmason$38.52$80,120$48.251,0506th of 50+11.0%29% above
9Sheet metal worker$37.38$77,760$51.473,1808th of 50+16.1%26% above
10Elevator mechanic$37.33$77,640$60.9837034th of 37-30.1%29% below
11Electrician$36.80$76,540$48.9314,31013th of 51-3.1%21% above
12Heavy equipment operator$36.19$75,280$48.158,14012th of 51+4.3%26% above
13Crane operator$32.56$67,720$50.2044023rd of 50+4.8%1% below
14Cement mason$30.89$64,250$45.154,4907th of 51+3.5%13% above
15Tile setter$30.14$62,680$41.174109th of 47-4.6%13% above
16Diesel mechanic$30.02$62,450$39.526,75021st of 51+5.7%1% above
17Glazier$30.00$62,400$46.8558011th of 50-2.4%9% above
18HVAC technician$29.67$61,710$47.156,63023rd of 51-2.8%1% above
19Carpenter$29.65$61,660$44.7313,88020th of 51+2.4%2% above
20Drywall installer$28.83$59,970$41.031,14019th of 49+3.0%2% above
21Roofer$28.54$59,370$37.682,40018th of 51+17.8%7% above
22Machinist$28.42$59,110$36.6712,70026th of 51+5.5%1% above
23Welder$28.08$58,410$34.0015,32022nd of 51+9.6%9% above
24Construction laborer$26.97$56,100$38.9020,33012th of 51+11.7%19% above
25Plasterer$24.37$50,700$35.734021st of 28-11.6%12% below
26Painter$24.08$50,090$36.083,35023rd of 51-6.0%1% above
27Solar installer$23.93$49,770$41.189019th of 32—6% below
28Insulation worker$23.81$49,520$30.8465022nd of 48—1% above

Most in-demand trades in Wisconsin

By the Wisconsin labor market agency's 2024–2034 projections, the fastest-growing trades are solar installers (+30.2%), electricians (+15.1%), construction managers (+14.5%). The most openings a year, counting replacements as well as growth, come from construction laborers (2,390 a year), welders (1,860 a year), carpenters (1,640 a year). The largest specialty-contractor group in the state is building equipment contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), with 49,500 jobs (2025 annual average, QCEW).

TradeProjected change 2024–2034Openings a yearJobs in 2024Median $/hr
Solar installer+30.2%30230$23.93
Electrician+15.1%1,47013,790$36.80
Construction manager+14.5%6707,220$54.90
Lineman+13.5%2402,560$50.88
HVAC technician+13.5%6406,270$29.67
Construction laborer+13.5%2,39024,540$26.97
Roofer+12.7%2002,390$28.54
Tile setter+12.3%60750$30.14
Plumber+10.7%9509,930$39.04
Ironworker+10.3%60720$44.63
Glazier+10.1%50530$30.00
Construction supervisor+9.5%1,26014,560$41.03

Source: Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

160.1kConstruction jobs2026-09
+5.0%Change over 12 months
+19.8%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025160kSep 2026
Construction employment in Wisconsin, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in Wisconsin

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Wisconsin, 72 of 72 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $70.47/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in Wisconsin

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in Wisconsin?

Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $54.90 an hour in May 2025, followed by linemen ($50.88) and boilermakers ($46.92).

Which trades are in highest demand in Wisconsin?

By projected growth between 2024 and 2034, solar installers (+30.2%), electricians (+15.1%), construction managers (+14.5%). By openings a year, construction laborers (2,390 a year), welders (1,860 a year), carpenters (1,640 a year). The figures come from Wisconsin's labor market agency via Projections Central and count replacement openings as well as new jobs.

How does Wisconsin compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 28 trades listed, 23 pay above the national median in Wisconsin and 5 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 94.1% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

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