Highest-paying trades in Florida
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Florida, with a median of $104,730 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 62 of the 86 trades ranked here pay more than the $47,880 median for all jobs in Florida.
All 86 trades by median pay in Florida
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers2,790 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $104,730$50.35/hr |
| 2 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay910 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $101,780$48.93/hr |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers6,420 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $86,870$41.76/hr |
| 4 | Avionics technicians2,400 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $83,800$40.29/hr |
| 5 | Watch and clock repairers+22% vs U.S. | $81,850$39.35/hr |
| 6 | Signal and track switch repairers290 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $78,680$37.83/hr |
| 7 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment230 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $77,110$37.07/hr |
| 8 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians14,850 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $76,940$36.99/hr |
| 9 | Boilermakers400 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $69,790$33.55/hr |
| 10 | Construction and building inspectors13,860 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $68,170$32.77/hr |
| 11 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines9,240 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $63,550$30.55/hr |
| 12 | Rail car repairers410 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $62,260$29.93/hr |
| 13 | Millwrights530 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $62,000$29.81/hr |
| 14 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers5,760 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $61,740$29.68/hr |
| 15 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment3,650 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $61,530$29.58/hr |
| 16 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators490 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $61,220$29.43/hr |
| 17 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers11,820 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $61,030$29.34/hr |
| 18 | Industrial machinery mechanics17,120 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $60,650$29.16/hr |
| 19 | Recreational vehicle service technicians1,040 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $60,560$29.12/hr |
| 20 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists14,900 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $60,490$29.08/hr |
| 21 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers520 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $60,140$28.91/hr |
| 22 | Security and fire alarm systems installers8,320 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $60,070$28.88/hr |
| 23 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other410 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $59,310$28.52/hr |
| 24 | Stonemasons+3% vs U.S. | $58,980$28.35/hr |
| 25 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door1,250 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $57,460$27.63/hr |
| 26 | Home appliance repairers3,000 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $57,280$27.54/hr |
| 27 | Electricians49,700 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $57,250$27.52/hr |
| 28 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles1,660 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $57,020$27.41/hr |
| 29 | Medical equipment repairers4,260 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $56,940$27.37/hr |
| 30 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers39,160 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $56,670$27.24/hr |
| 31 | Structural iron and steel workers2,730 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $55,700$26.78/hr |
| 32 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians4,810 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $55,680$26.77/hr |
| 33 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters29,260 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $52,910$25.44/hr |
| 34 | Brickmasons and blockmasons2,610 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $52,760$25.37/hr |
| 35 | Riggers910 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $52,390$25.19/hr |
| 36 | Floor sanders and finishers270 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $52,060$25.03/hr |
| 37 | Maintenance workers, machinery2,830 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $51,900$24.95/hr |
| 38 | Pile driver operators270 jobs · −29% vs U.S. | $51,830$24.92/hr |
| 39 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers16,420 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $50,640$24.35/hr |
| 40 | Solar photovoltaic installers2,980 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $50,550$24.30/hr |
| 41 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers1,150 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $50,500$24.28/hr |
| 42 | Mechanical door repairers1,770 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $50,020$24.05/hr |
| 43 | Carpenters39,300 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $49,870$23.98/hr |
| 44 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers1,610 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $49,780$23.93/hr |
| 45 | Insulation workers, mechanical480 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $49,660$23.88/hr |
| 46 | Commercial divers370 jobs · −32% vs U.S. | $49,640$23.86/hr |
| 47 | Sheet metal workers8,040 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $49,640$23.87/hr |
| 48 | Terrazzo workers and finishers−35% vs U.S. | $49,500$23.80/hr |
| 49 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators27,510 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $49,400$23.75/hr |
| 50 | Tapers−28% vs U.S. | $49,400$23.75/hr |
| 51 | Locksmiths and safe repairers1,440 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $49,120$23.61/hr |
| 52 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers6,000 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $48,970$23.54/hr |
| 53 | Automotive glass installers and repairers2,030 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $48,800$23.46/hr |
| 54 | Paperhangers30 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $48,780$23.45/hr |
| 55 | Motorcycle mechanics730 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $48,700$23.41/hr |
| 56 | Cement masons and concrete finishers15,240 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $48,680$23.40/hr |
| 57 | Automotive body and related repairers9,220 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $48,600$23.36/hr |
| 58 | Carpet installers550 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $48,580$23.36/hr |
| 59 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers1,350 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $48,430$23.28/hr |
| 60 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians800 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $48,360$23.25/hr |
| 61 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics49,930 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $48,260$23.20/hr |
| 62 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles660 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $47,980$23.07/hr |
| 63 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics3,450 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $47,840$23.00/hr |
| 64 | Roofers23,550 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $47,590$22.88/hr |
| 65 | Painters, construction and maintenance22,450 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,530$22.85/hr |
| 66 | Plasterers and stucco masons1,970 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $47,420$22.80/hr |
| 67 | Tile and stone setters4,070 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $47,280$22.73/hr |
| 68 | Pipelayers4,050 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,260$22.72/hr |
| 69 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall2,690 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,100$22.65/hr |
| 70 | Glaziers6,370 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $47,030$22.61/hr |
| 71 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators2,740 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $46,840$22.52/hr |
| 72 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other16,340 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,290$22.25/hr |
| 73 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers1,150 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $46,200$22.21/hr |
| 74 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners1,330 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $46,150$22.19/hr |
| 75 | Maintenance and repair workers, general111,530 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $46,060$22.15/hr |
| 76 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers3,470 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $45,690$21.97/hr |
| 77 | Fence erectors2,020 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $45,550$21.90/hr |
| 78 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers2,710 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $45,120$21.69/hr |
| 79 | Construction laborers87,040 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $44,030$21.17/hr |
| 80 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners140 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $44,030$21.17/hr |
| 81 | Hazardous materials removal workers1,780 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $42,350$20.36/hr |
| 82 | Highway maintenance workers2,530 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $42,210$20.29/hr |
| 83 | Bicycle repairers510 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $41,630$20.02/hr |
| 84 | Camera and photographic equipment repairers30 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $41,290$19.85/hr |
| 85 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers80 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $39,140$18.82/hr |
| 86 | Tire repairers and changers6,960 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $34,010$16.35/hr |
Linked trades have full Florida 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 Florida, 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 Florida median for 2 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 Florida?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $104,730 a year ($50.35 an hour) in Florida, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Florida?
- 2 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Florida: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($104,730), electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($101,780).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Florida?
- 62 of the 86 trades ranked here have a median above $47,880, the median for all occupations in Florida.
- Do trades pay more in Florida than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 9 of the 86 trades have a higher median in Florida than nationally. The biggest gap is watch and clock repairers: $81,850, 22% above the U.S. median of $67,230.
- Which trade employs the most people in Florida?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 111,530 jobs and a median of $46,060 a year.