Highest-paying trades in Georgia
Updated September 27, 2026
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay are the highest-paying skilled trade in Georgia, with a median of $106,930 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 51 of the 79 trades ranked here pay more than the $48,170 median for all jobs in Georgia.
All 79 trades by median pay in Georgia
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay540 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $106,930$51.41/hr |
| 2 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers640 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $83,500$40.14/hr |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers4,960 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $80,080$38.50/hr |
| 4 | Signal and track switch repairers440 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $79,860$38.39/hr |
| 5 | Avionics technicians1,820 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $79,060$38.01/hr |
| 6 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians6,720 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $75,640$36.36/hr |
| 7 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment3,040 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $68,470$32.92/hr |
| 8 | Riggers700 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $67,200$32.31/hr |
| 9 | Construction and building inspectors4,510 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $65,980$31.72/hr |
| 10 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers6,640 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $64,900$31.20/hr |
| 11 | Rail car repairers980 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $64,230$30.88/hr |
| 12 | Boilermakers−16% vs U.S. | $64,200$30.86/hr |
| 13 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other180 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $63,110$30.34/hr |
| 14 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators710 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $63,010$30.30/hr |
| 15 | Millwrights1,780 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $62,760$30.17/hr |
| 16 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment190 jobs · −26% vs U.S. | $62,710$30.15/hr |
| 17 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers190 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $62,010$29.81/hr |
| 18 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists10,910 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $61,370$29.50/hr |
| 19 | Industrial machinery mechanics14,230 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $61,130$29.39/hr |
| 20 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door870 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $61,070$29.36/hr |
| 21 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines6,270 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $60,560$29.12/hr |
| 22 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles300 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $59,550$28.63/hr |
| 23 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers3,530 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $58,760$28.25/hr |
| 24 | Electricians21,650 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $58,320$28.04/hr |
| 25 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers690 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $58,260$28.01/hr |
| 26 | Maintenance workers, machinery2,900 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $57,730$27.76/hr |
| 27 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters8,930 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $57,200$27.50/hr |
| 28 | Sheet metal workers3,590 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $56,800$27.31/hr |
| 29 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers12,290 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $56,390$27.11/hr |
| 30 | Locksmiths and safe repairers330 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $54,050$25.99/hr |
| 31 | Recreational vehicle service technicians490 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $53,290$25.62/hr |
| 32 | Security and fire alarm systems installers2,220 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $53,100$25.53/hr |
| 33 | Insulation workers, mechanical660 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $52,600$25.29/hr |
| 34 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners590 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $51,880$24.94/hr |
| 35 | Mechanical door repairers970 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $51,510$24.76/hr |
| 36 | Automotive body and related repairers4,680 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $51,190$24.61/hr |
| 37 | Brickmasons and blockmasons−18% vs U.S. | $50,650$24.35/hr |
| 38 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians570 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $50,170$24.12/hr |
| 39 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers890 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $50,090$24.08/hr |
| 40 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers160 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $50,060$24.07/hr |
| 41 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians390 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $49,850$23.97/hr |
| 42 | Home appliance repairers670 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $49,500$23.80/hr |
| 43 | Carpenters9,190 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $49,350$23.72/hr |
| 44 | Camera and photographic equipment repairers60 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $49,320$23.71/hr |
| 45 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics22,070 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $49,060$23.59/hr |
| 46 | Hazardous materials removal workers460 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $48,960$23.54/hr |
| 47 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other7,430 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $48,490$23.31/hr |
| 48 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers13,130 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $48,430$23.28/hr |
| 49 | Medical equipment repairers1,740 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $48,350$23.25/hr |
| 50 | Painters, construction and maintenance2,760 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $48,340$23.24/hr |
| 51 | Carpet installers530 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $48,260$23.20/hr |
| 52 | Structural iron and steel workers980 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $48,090$23.12/hr |
| 53 | Pile driver operators50 jobs · −35% vs U.S. | $47,930$23.04/hr |
| 54 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators15,700 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $47,880$23.02/hr |
| 55 | Tile and stone setters360 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $47,840$23.00/hr |
| 56 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall900 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $47,810$22.99/hr |
| 57 | Solar photovoltaic installers−10% vs U.S. | $47,790$22.98/hr |
| 58 | Maintenance and repair workers, general48,430 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,680$22.92/hr |
| 59 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers80 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $47,480$22.83/hr |
| 60 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics1,620 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $47,360$22.77/hr |
| 61 | Roofers2,160 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $46,940$22.57/hr |
| 62 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers2,920 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $46,430$22.32/hr |
| 63 | Cement masons and concrete finishers3,400 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $46,240$22.23/hr |
| 64 | Pipelayers1,890 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,220$22.22/hr |
| 65 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators1,270 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $46,100$22.16/hr |
| 66 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles330 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $46,030$22.13/hr |
| 67 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers2,330 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $45,390$21.82/hr |
| 68 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers470 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $45,360$21.81/hr |
| 69 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers190 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $43,610$20.97/hr |
| 70 | Glaziers2,530 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $43,340$20.84/hr |
| 71 | Motorcycle mechanics250 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $43,050$20.70/hr |
| 72 | Floor sanders and finishers−20% vs U.S. | $40,530$19.49/hr |
| 73 | Construction laborers27,800 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $38,990$18.74/hr |
| 74 | Highway maintenance workers1,980 jobs · −25% vs U.S. | $37,560$18.06/hr |
| 75 | Fence erectors500 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $36,990$17.78/hr |
| 76 | Automotive glass installers and repairers520 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $36,430$17.51/hr |
| 77 | Tire repairers and changers3,980 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $34,700$16.69/hr |
| 78 | Bicycle repairers170 jobs · −28% vs U.S. | $30,870$14.84/hr |
| 79 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners100 jobs · −36% vs U.S. | $29,640$14.25/hr |
Linked trades have full Georgia 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 Georgia, 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 Georgia median for 9 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 Georgia?
- Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay, with a median of $106,930 a year ($51.41 an hour) in Georgia, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Georgia?
- One trade has a median of $100,000 or more in Georgia: electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($106,930).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Georgia?
- 51 of the 79 trades ranked here have a median above $48,170, the median for all occupations in Georgia.
- Do trades pay more in Georgia than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 8 of the 79 trades have a higher median in Georgia than nationally. The biggest gap is electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles: $59,550, 23% above the U.S. median of $48,420.
- Which trade employs the most people in Georgia?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 48,430 jobs and a median of $47,680 a year.