Highest-paying trades in Michigan
Updated September 27, 2026
Electrical power-line installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Michigan, with a median of $106,890 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 61 of the 82 trades ranked here pay more than the $49,270 median for all jobs in Michigan.
All 82 trades by median pay in Michigan
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers2,800 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $106,890$51.39/hr |
| 2 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay450 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $106,600$51.25/hr |
| 3 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers560 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $99,140$47.67/hr |
| 4 | Boilermakers+29% vs U.S. | $98,220$47.22/hr |
| 5 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door2,240 jobs · +30% vs U.S. | $96,890$46.58/hr |
| 6 | Signal and track switch repairers120 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $93,060$44.74/hr |
| 7 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers+55% vs U.S. | $91,220$43.86/hr |
| 8 | Millwrights2,900 jobs · +36% vs U.S. | $89,190$42.88/hr |
| 9 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters14,120 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $80,190$38.56/hr |
| 10 | Electricians23,530 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $76,270$36.67/hr |
| 11 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators290 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $75,450$36.27/hr |
| 12 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians3,380 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $74,900$36.01/hr |
| 13 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers2,780 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $74,360$35.75/hr |
| 14 | Plasterers and stucco masons210 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $72,990$35.09/hr |
| 15 | Terrazzo workers and finishers−5% vs U.S. | $72,450$34.83/hr |
| 16 | Construction and building inspectors3,090 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $71,040$34.15/hr |
| 17 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment130 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $69,510$33.42/hr |
| 18 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines3,860 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $66,680$32.06/hr |
| 19 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other190 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $66,360$31.91/hr |
| 20 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment1,460 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $66,140$31.80/hr |
| 21 | Sheet metal workers4,000 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $64,490$31.01/hr |
| 22 | Rail car repairers370 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $64,370$30.95/hr |
| 23 | Industrial machinery mechanics17,310 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $64,250$30.89/hr |
| 24 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers410 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $64,130$30.83/hr |
| 25 | Tapers190 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $63,630$30.59/hr |
| 26 | Brickmasons and blockmasons2,240 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $63,500$30.53/hr |
| 27 | Structural iron and steel workers1,750 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $62,830$30.21/hr |
| 28 | Wind turbine service technicians70 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $62,800$30.19/hr |
| 29 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators9,500 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $62,690$30.14/hr |
| 30 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers3,940 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $61,700$29.66/hr |
| 31 | Carpenters18,590 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $61,680$29.66/hr |
| 32 | Pipelayers180 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $61,560$29.60/hr |
| 33 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists9,020 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $61,420$29.53/hr |
| 34 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers12,590 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $60,850$29.26/hr |
| 35 | Medical equipment repairers1,820 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $60,680$29.17/hr |
| 36 | Cement masons and concrete finishers6,350 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $59,860$28.78/hr |
| 37 | Maintenance workers, machinery1,640 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $59,590$28.65/hr |
| 38 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners210 jobs · +28% vs U.S. | $59,570$28.64/hr |
| 39 | Roofers3,090 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $59,530$28.62/hr |
| 40 | Stonemasons130 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $59,160$28.44/hr |
| 41 | Insulation workers, mechanical650 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $58,860$28.30/hr |
| 42 | Riggers380 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $58,490$28.12/hr |
| 43 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers1,050 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $58,440$28.10/hr |
| 44 | Avionics technicians300 jobs · −29% vs U.S. | $58,280$28.02/hr |
| 45 | Automotive body and related repairers5,010 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $56,880$27.35/hr |
| 46 | Security and fire alarm systems installers2,060 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $55,830$26.84/hr |
| 47 | Commercial divers80 jobs · −25% vs U.S. | $54,620$26.26/hr |
| 48 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators1,720 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $54,220$26.07/hr |
| 49 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics22,280 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $54,120$26.02/hr |
| 50 | Locksmiths and safe repairers230 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $54,120$26.02/hr |
| 51 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers660 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $53,800$25.87/hr |
| 52 | Highway maintenance workers5,230 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $53,750$25.84/hr |
| 53 | Glaziers2,040 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $52,770$25.37/hr |
| 54 | Mechanical door repairers810 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $52,370$25.18/hr |
| 55 | Home appliance repairers1,050 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $52,160$25.08/hr |
| 56 | Floor sanders and finishers+2% vs U.S. | $51,400$24.71/hr |
| 57 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians980 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $50,870$24.46/hr |
| 58 | Painters, construction and maintenance4,920 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $50,650$24.35/hr |
| 59 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners1,080 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $50,040$24.06/hr |
| 60 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers13,330 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $49,990$24.03/hr |
| 61 | Construction laborers28,490 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $49,590$23.84/hr |
| 62 | Carpet installers470 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $48,790$23.46/hr |
| 63 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers390 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $48,440$23.29/hr |
| 64 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles80 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $48,070$23.11/hr |
| 65 | Tile and stone setters1,010 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $47,950$23.05/hr |
| 66 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians1,480 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $47,900$23.03/hr |
| 67 | Maintenance and repair workers, general39,490 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,580$22.87/hr |
| 68 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers1,660 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $47,570$22.87/hr |
| 69 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other5,800 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,470$22.82/hr |
| 70 | Solar photovoltaic installers310 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $47,080$22.63/hr |
| 71 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers430 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $46,980$22.59/hr |
| 72 | Automotive glass installers and repairers580 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $46,860$22.53/hr |
| 73 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles670 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $46,800$22.50/hr |
| 74 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics1,860 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $46,730$22.47/hr |
| 75 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall710 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $46,490$22.35/hr |
| 76 | Hazardous materials removal workers1,610 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,380$22.30/hr |
| 77 | Fence erectors460 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $45,800$22.02/hr |
| 78 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers310 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $45,400$21.83/hr |
| 79 | Recreational vehicle service technicians640 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $41,600$20.00/hr |
| 80 | Motorcycle mechanics310 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $40,100$19.28/hr |
| 81 | Bicycle repairers580 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $38,910$18.71/hr |
| 82 | Tire repairers and changers4,470 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $37,130$17.85/hr |
Linked trades have full Michigan 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 Michigan, 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 Michigan median for 6 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 Michigan?
- Electrical power-line installers and repairers, with a median of $106,890 a year ($51.39 an hour) in Michigan, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Michigan?
- 2 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Michigan: electrical power-line installers and repairers ($106,890), electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($106,600).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Michigan?
- 61 of the 82 trades ranked here have a median above $49,270, the median for all occupations in Michigan.
- Do trades pay more in Michigan than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 33 of the 82 trades have a higher median in Michigan than nationally. The biggest gap is reinforcing iron and rebar workers: $91,220, 55% above the U.S. median of $58,970.
- Which trade employs the most people in Michigan?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 39,490 jobs and a median of $47,580 a year.