Highest-paying trades in Arizona
Updated September 27, 2026
Signal and track switch repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Arizona, with a median of $96,460 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 56 of the 80 trades ranked here pay more than the $50,060 median for all jobs in Arizona.
All 80 trades by median pay in Arizona
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Signal and track switch repairers100 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $96,460$46.38/hr |
| 2 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers100 jobs · +50% vs U.S. | $95,040$45.69/hr |
| 3 | Commercial divers+18% vs U.S. | $85,990$41.34/hr |
| 4 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment50 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $84,110$40.44/hr |
| 5 | Rail car repairers170 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $81,230$39.05/hr |
| 6 | Insulation workers, mechanical+38% vs U.S. | $80,410$38.66/hr |
| 7 | Avionics technicians600 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $79,770$38.35/hr |
| 8 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay160 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $79,160$38.06/hr |
| 9 | Boilermakers170 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $77,940$37.47/hr |
| 10 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other60 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $77,210$37.12/hr |
| 11 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment+4% vs U.S. | $77,110$37.07/hr |
| 12 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators170 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $76,620$36.84/hr |
| 13 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers3,360 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $75,420$36.26/hr |
| 14 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians5,670 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $75,300$36.20/hr |
| 15 | Industrial machinery mechanics5,020 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $74,790$35.96/hr |
| 16 | Construction and building inspectors3,330 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $73,440$35.31/hr |
| 17 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers3,320 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $72,710$34.96/hr |
| 18 | Wind turbine service technicians80 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $66,330$31.89/hr |
| 19 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines7,040 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $64,980$31.24/hr |
| 20 | Medical equipment repairers2,630 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $62,810$30.20/hr |
| 21 | Pipelayers480 jobs · +28% vs U.S. | $62,740$30.16/hr |
| 22 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters11,810 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $62,070$29.84/hr |
| 23 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists5,140 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $61,680$29.65/hr |
| 24 | Electricians21,140 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $61,060$29.36/hr |
| 25 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators13,200 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $60,620$29.14/hr |
| 26 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door840 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $60,570$29.12/hr |
| 27 | Security and fire alarm systems installers2,040 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $59,680$28.69/hr |
| 28 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers10,860 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $59,400$28.56/hr |
| 29 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians430 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $59,390$28.55/hr |
| 30 | Structural iron and steel workers3,980 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $59,390$28.55/hr |
| 31 | Brickmasons and blockmasons1,190 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $59,260$28.49/hr |
| 32 | Camera and photographic equipment repairers+12% vs U.S. | $59,080$28.41/hr |
| 33 | Cement masons and concrete finishers7,520 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $58,910$28.32/hr |
| 34 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers790 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $58,600$28.17/hr |
| 35 | Carpenters16,230 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $58,580$28.17/hr |
| 36 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers60 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $58,230$27.99/hr |
| 37 | Millwrights450 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $57,380$27.59/hr |
| 38 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles40 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $57,280$27.54/hr |
| 39 | Glaziers2,370 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $56,560$27.19/hr |
| 40 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers990 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $56,450$27.14/hr |
| 41 | Tapers780 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $56,300$27.07/hr |
| 42 | Maintenance workers, machinery440 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $56,130$26.98/hr |
| 43 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers7,270 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $55,600$26.73/hr |
| 44 | Automotive body and related repairers2,750 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $54,510$26.21/hr |
| 45 | Bicycle repairers610 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $53,970$25.95/hr |
| 46 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians700 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $53,630$25.78/hr |
| 47 | Riggers250 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $52,370$25.18/hr |
| 48 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators170 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $52,140$25.07/hr |
| 49 | Tile and stone setters1,060 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $52,000$25.00/hr |
| 50 | Mechanical door repairers1,540 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $51,760$24.89/hr |
| 51 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers−8% vs U.S. | $51,600$24.81/hr |
| 52 | Solar photovoltaic installers1,280 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $51,160$24.60/hr |
| 53 | Highway maintenance workers1,410 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $50,850$24.45/hr |
| 54 | Hazardous materials removal workers800 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $50,530$24.29/hr |
| 55 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers2,590 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $50,290$24.18/hr |
| 56 | Sheet metal workers3,060 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $50,260$24.16/hr |
| 57 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other4,010 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $49,990$24.03/hr |
| 58 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers1,000 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $49,620$23.86/hr |
| 59 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics16,400 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $49,570$23.83/hr |
| 60 | Plasterers and stucco masons1,910 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $49,510$23.80/hr |
| 61 | Recreational vehicle service technicians900 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $49,250$23.68/hr |
| 62 | Painters, construction and maintenance5,210 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $48,250$23.20/hr |
| 63 | Carpet installers260 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $47,920$23.04/hr |
| 64 | Home appliance repairers990 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $47,800$22.98/hr |
| 65 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners590 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,670$22.92/hr |
| 66 | Maintenance and repair workers, general39,000 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,620$22.90/hr |
| 67 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers−5% vs U.S. | $47,550$22.86/hr |
| 68 | Roofers3,420 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $47,340$22.76/hr |
| 69 | Construction laborers37,630 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $46,590$22.40/hr |
| 70 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics1,050 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $46,580$22.39/hr |
| 71 | Fence erectors−4% vs U.S. | $46,270$22.24/hr |
| 72 | Automotive glass installers and repairers730 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $45,670$21.96/hr |
| 73 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers520 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $45,400$21.83/hr |
| 74 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles610 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $44,740$21.51/hr |
| 75 | Locksmiths and safe repairers260 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $44,460$21.37/hr |
| 76 | Motorcycle mechanics240 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $44,190$21.24/hr |
| 77 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall780 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $42,210$20.29/hr |
| 78 | Stonemasons270 jobs · −27% vs U.S. | $42,130$20.25/hr |
| 79 | Tire repairers and changers3,160 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $38,300$18.41/hr |
| 80 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners110 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $37,850$18.20/hr |
Linked trades have full Arizona pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in Arizona, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a Arizona median for 8 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in Arizona?
- Signal and track switch repairers, with a median of $96,460 a year ($46.38 an hour) in Arizona, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Arizona?
- No trade has a median of $100,000 or more in Arizona; the highest is signal and track switch repairers at $96,460. Top earners in many trades pass $100,000.
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Arizona?
- 56 of the 80 trades ranked here have a median above $50,060, the median for all occupations in Arizona.
- Do trades pay more in Arizona than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 27 of the 80 trades have a higher median in Arizona than nationally. The biggest gap is radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers: $95,040, 50% above the U.S. median of $63,520.
- Which trade employs the most people in Arizona?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 39,000 jobs and a median of $47,620 a year.