Highest-paying trades in Arkansas
Updated September 27, 2026
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay are the highest-paying skilled trade in Arkansas, with a median of $101,120 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 52 of the 70 trades ranked here pay more than the $43,630 median for all jobs in Arkansas.
All 70 trades by median pay in Arkansas
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay260 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $101,120$48.62/hr |
| 2 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers1,510 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $81,450$39.16/hr |
| 3 | Boilermakers50 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $76,810$36.93/hr |
| 4 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment330 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $66,980$32.20/hr |
| 5 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians720 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $65,420$31.45/hr |
| 6 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers60 jobs · −44% vs U.S. | $61,530$29.58/hr |
| 7 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door440 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $61,440$29.54/hr |
| 8 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other130 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $60,990$29.32/hr |
| 9 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers1,690 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $60,840$29.25/hr |
| 10 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines1,190 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $60,530$29.10/hr |
| 11 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators150 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $60,230$28.96/hr |
| 12 | Industrial machinery mechanics6,270 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $59,760$28.73/hr |
| 13 | Riggers120 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $59,680$28.69/hr |
| 14 | Millwrights1,140 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $56,310$27.07/hr |
| 15 | Brickmasons and blockmasons450 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $55,100$26.49/hr |
| 16 | Avionics technicians100 jobs · −34% vs U.S. | $54,160$26.04/hr |
| 17 | Rail car repairers340 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $53,810$25.87/hr |
| 18 | Maintenance workers, machinery770 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $53,250$25.60/hr |
| 19 | Construction and building inspectors800 jobs · −29% vs U.S. | $52,700$25.34/hr |
| 20 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists4,090 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $52,330$25.16/hr |
| 21 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers90 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $51,670$24.84/hr |
| 22 | Insulation workers, mechanical130 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $51,390$24.71/hr |
| 23 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers1,320 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $49,740$23.91/hr |
| 24 | Automotive body and related repairers1,140 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $49,310$23.71/hr |
| 25 | Electricians7,500 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $49,070$23.59/hr |
| 26 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians790 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $49,030$23.57/hr |
| 27 | Security and fire alarm systems installers620 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $48,950$23.53/hr |
| 28 | Recreational vehicle service technicians190 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $48,800$23.46/hr |
| 29 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters3,370 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $48,660$23.39/hr |
| 30 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers4,960 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $48,110$23.13/hr |
| 31 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers6,150 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $47,970$23.06/hr |
| 32 | Carpenters4,030 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $47,760$22.96/hr |
| 33 | Roofers950 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $47,470$22.82/hr |
| 34 | Motorcycle mechanics180 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $47,350$22.77/hr |
| 35 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers60 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $46,940$22.57/hr |
| 36 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers220 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $46,530$22.37/hr |
| 37 | Cement masons and concrete finishers1,900 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $46,230$22.23/hr |
| 38 | Fence erectors270 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $46,150$22.19/hr |
| 39 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers560 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $45,970$22.10/hr |
| 40 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians200 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $45,860$22.05/hr |
| 41 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other1,350 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $45,830$22.03/hr |
| 42 | Sheet metal workers1,230 jobs · −26% vs U.S. | $45,820$22.03/hr |
| 43 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers−23% vs U.S. | $45,700$21.97/hr |
| 44 | Structural iron and steel workers1,080 jobs · −28% vs U.S. | $45,510$21.88/hr |
| 45 | Automotive glass installers and repairers190 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $45,180$21.72/hr |
| 46 | Solar photovoltaic installers−16% vs U.S. | $44,820$21.55/hr |
| 47 | Glaziers480 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $44,700$21.49/hr |
| 48 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers240 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $44,550$21.42/hr |
| 49 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators5,800 jobs · −26% vs U.S. | $44,520$21.41/hr |
| 50 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics7,310 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $44,160$21.23/hr |
| 51 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators490 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $44,010$21.16/hr |
| 52 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall350 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $43,730$21.03/hr |
| 53 | Maintenance and repair workers, general12,410 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $43,400$20.87/hr |
| 54 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers120 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $42,670$20.51/hr |
| 55 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles80 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $41,510$19.96/hr |
| 56 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles210 jobs · −28% vs U.S. | $40,750$19.59/hr |
| 57 | Painters, construction and maintenance890 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $40,090$19.28/hr |
| 58 | Tile and stone setters160 jobs · −30% vs U.S. | $38,980$18.74/hr |
| 59 | Medical equipment repairers510 jobs · −37% vs U.S. | $38,950$18.72/hr |
| 60 | Home appliance repairers230 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $38,680$18.60/hr |
| 61 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners−23% vs U.S. | $38,330$18.43/hr |
| 62 | Mechanical door repairers230 jobs · −31% vs U.S. | $38,290$18.41/hr |
| 63 | Pipelayers430 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $37,650$18.10/hr |
| 64 | Construction laborers10,650 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $37,630$18.09/hr |
| 65 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics390 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $37,610$18.08/hr |
| 66 | Carpet installers50 jobs · −26% vs U.S. | $37,390$17.98/hr |
| 67 | Hazardous materials removal workers440 jobs · −26% vs U.S. | $36,630$17.61/hr |
| 68 | Locksmiths and safe repairers100 jobs · −30% vs U.S. | $35,770$17.20/hr |
| 69 | Highway maintenance workers860 jobs · −29% vs U.S. | $35,740$17.19/hr |
| 70 | Tire repairers and changers1,240 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $34,450$16.56/hr |
Linked trades have full Arkansas 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 Arkansas, 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 Arkansas median for 18 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 Arkansas?
- Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay, with a median of $101,120 a year ($48.62 an hour) in Arkansas, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Arkansas?
- One trade has a median of $100,000 or more in Arkansas: electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($101,120).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Arkansas?
- 52 of the 70 trades ranked here have a median above $43,630, the median for all occupations in Arkansas.
- Do trades pay more in Arkansas than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 1 of the 70 trades have a higher median in Arkansas than nationally. The biggest gap is boilermakers: $76,810, 1% above the U.S. median of $76,410.
- Which trade employs the most people in Arkansas?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 12,410 jobs and a median of $43,400 a year.