Highest-paying trades in Wisconsin
28 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states and the union scale.
Every trade in Wisconsin, ranked by median pay
| # | Trade | Median $/hr | Median $/yr | 90th pct $/hr | Jobs | State rank | 10-yr real change | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction manager | $54.90 | $114,190 | $81.59 | 6,080 | 21st of 51 | -10.3% | 1% below |
| 2 | Lineman | $50.88 | $105,820 | $57.62 | 2,520 | 17th of 51 | +7.3% | 11% above |
| 3 | Boilermaker | $46.92 | $97,590 | $49.55 | 170 | 6th of 37 | +5.6% | 28% above |
| 4 | Ironworker | $44.63 | $92,820 | $48.16 | 710 | 9th of 50 | +1.1% | 48% above |
| 5 | Construction supervisor | $41.03 | $85,350 | $59.08 | 15,150 | 15th of 51 | -0.2% | 7% above |
| 6 | Millwright | $39.73 | $82,630 | $44.85 | 1,220 | 4th of 48 | +13.1% | 26% above |
| 7 | Plumber | $39.04 | $81,210 | $57.72 | 10,210 | 7th of 51 | -12.4% | 27% above |
| 8 | Brickmason | $38.52 | $80,120 | $48.25 | 1,050 | 6th of 50 | +11.0% | 29% above |
| 9 | Sheet metal worker | $37.38 | $77,760 | $51.47 | 3,180 | 8th of 50 | +16.1% | 26% above |
| 10 | Elevator mechanic | $37.33 | $77,640 | $60.98 | 370 | 34th of 37 | -30.1% | 29% below |
| 11 | Electrician | $36.80 | $76,540 | $48.93 | 14,310 | 13th of 51 | -3.1% | 21% above |
| 12 | Heavy equipment operator | $36.19 | $75,280 | $48.15 | 8,140 | 12th of 51 | +4.3% | 26% above |
| 13 | Crane operator | $32.56 | $67,720 | $50.20 | 440 | 23rd of 50 | +4.8% | 1% below |
| 14 | Cement mason | $30.89 | $64,250 | $45.15 | 4,490 | 7th of 51 | +3.5% | 13% above |
| 15 | Tile setter | $30.14 | $62,680 | $41.17 | 410 | 9th of 47 | -4.6% | 13% above |
| 16 | Diesel mechanic | $30.02 | $62,450 | $39.52 | 6,750 | 21st of 51 | +5.7% | 1% above |
| 17 | Glazier | $30.00 | $62,400 | $46.85 | 580 | 11th of 50 | -2.4% | 9% above |
| 18 | HVAC technician | $29.67 | $61,710 | $47.15 | 6,630 | 23rd of 51 | -2.8% | 1% above |
| 19 | Carpenter | $29.65 | $61,660 | $44.73 | 13,880 | 20th of 51 | +2.4% | 2% above |
| 20 | Drywall installer | $28.83 | $59,970 | $41.03 | 1,140 | 19th of 49 | +3.0% | 2% above |
| 21 | Roofer | $28.54 | $59,370 | $37.68 | 2,400 | 18th of 51 | +17.8% | 7% above |
| 22 | Machinist | $28.42 | $59,110 | $36.67 | 12,700 | 26th of 51 | +5.5% | 1% above |
| 23 | Welder | $28.08 | $58,410 | $34.00 | 15,320 | 22nd of 51 | +9.6% | 9% above |
| 24 | Construction laborer | $26.97 | $56,100 | $38.90 | 20,330 | 12th of 51 | +11.7% | 19% above |
| 25 | Plasterer | $24.37 | $50,700 | $35.73 | 40 | 21st of 28 | -11.6% | 12% below |
| 26 | Painter | $24.08 | $50,090 | $36.08 | 3,350 | 23rd of 51 | -6.0% | 1% above |
| 27 | Solar installer | $23.93 | $49,770 | $41.18 | 90 | 19th of 32 | — | 6% below |
| 28 | Insulation worker | $23.81 | $49,520 | $30.84 | 650 | 22nd of 48 | — | 1% above |
Construction jobs in Wisconsin
167.3kConstruction jobs2026-08
+7.5%Change over 12 months
+22.9%Change over 5 years
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 electrical power-line installers and repairers ($50.88) and boilermakers ($46.92).
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 2026-08.
- BEA Regional Price Parities.
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).