Highest-paying trades in Minnesota
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Minnesota, with a median of $128,020 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 65 of the 78 trades ranked here pay more than the $56,920 median for all jobs in Minnesota.
All 78 trades by median pay in Minnesota
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers550 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $128,020$61.55/hr |
| 2 | Insulation workers, mechanical250 jobs · +81% vs U.S. | $105,670$50.80/hr |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers2,190 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $104,180$50.09/hr |
| 4 | Plasterers and stucco masons160 jobs · +78% vs U.S. | $102,530$49.29/hr |
| 5 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay−3% vs U.S. | $99,900$48.03/hr |
| 6 | Signal and track switch repairers80 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $96,780$46.53/hr |
| 7 | Boilermakers140 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $96,190$46.25/hr |
| 8 | Structural iron and steel workers910 jobs · +52% vs U.S. | $95,320$45.83/hr |
| 9 | Brickmasons and blockmasons1,040 jobs · +53% vs U.S. | $95,220$45.78/hr |
| 10 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters10,720 jobs · +48% vs U.S. | $94,410$45.39/hr |
| 11 | Construction and building inspectors1,390 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $88,670$42.63/hr |
| 12 | Riggers190 jobs · +39% vs U.S. | $87,120$41.88/hr |
| 13 | Carpet installers+71% vs U.S. | $85,910$41.30/hr |
| 14 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians2,390 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $81,980$39.41/hr |
| 15 | Pipelayers510 jobs · +67% vs U.S. | $81,980$39.41/hr |
| 16 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment1,240 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $80,220$38.57/hr |
| 17 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines2,890 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $79,370$38.16/hr |
| 18 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators8,590 jobs · +32% vs U.S. | $79,130$38.04/hr |
| 19 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment40 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $78,690$37.83/hr |
| 20 | Millwrights480 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $78,570$37.77/hr |
| 21 | Electricians14,350 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $78,160$37.58/hr |
| 22 | Tapers220 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $78,090$37.54/hr |
| 23 | Rail car repairers170 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $77,800$37.40/hr |
| 24 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers80 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $76,960$37.00/hr |
| 25 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door710 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $76,640$36.85/hr |
| 26 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers4,200 jobs · +25% vs U.S. | $76,350$36.71/hr |
| 27 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers1,900 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $75,150$36.13/hr |
| 28 | Roofers1,890 jobs · +34% vs U.S. | $74,490$35.81/hr |
| 29 | Medical equipment repairers2,080 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $73,940$35.55/hr |
| 30 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers1,130 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $73,710$35.44/hr |
| 31 | Sheet metal workers2,980 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $72,970$35.08/hr |
| 32 | Industrial machinery mechanics6,510 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $71,960$34.60/hr |
| 33 | Tile and stone setters610 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $70,560$33.92/hr |
| 34 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators830 jobs · +28% vs U.S. | $68,180$32.78/hr |
| 35 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists7,300 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $66,840$32.14/hr |
| 36 | Cement masons and concrete finishers3,070 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $66,830$32.13/hr |
| 37 | Glaziers460 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $66,130$31.79/hr |
| 38 | Wind turbine service technicians450 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $65,000$31.25/hr |
| 39 | Carpenters14,930 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $64,930$31.22/hr |
| 40 | Highway maintenance workers4,610 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $63,150$30.36/hr |
| 41 | Maintenance workers, machinery730 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $63,020$30.30/hr |
| 42 | Floor sanders and finishers+25% vs U.S. | $62,940$30.26/hr |
| 43 | Security and fire alarm systems installers770 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $62,440$30.02/hr |
| 44 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners240 jobs · +25% vs U.S. | $62,190$29.90/hr |
| 45 | Home appliance repairers540 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $61,360$29.50/hr |
| 46 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers1,050 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $61,290$29.46/hr |
| 47 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians500 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $61,010$29.33/hr |
| 48 | Automotive body and related repairers2,910 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $60,970$29.31/hr |
| 49 | Stonemasons+5% vs U.S. | $60,510$29.09/hr |
| 50 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers9,270 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $60,280$28.98/hr |
| 51 | Construction laborers28,530 jobs · +28% vs U.S. | $60,260$28.97/hr |
| 52 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other2,140 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $60,250$28.97/hr |
| 53 | Recreational vehicle service technicians240 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $59,410$28.56/hr |
| 54 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles490 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $59,380$28.55/hr |
| 55 | Maintenance and repair workers, general29,660 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $59,200$28.46/hr |
| 56 | Hazardous materials removal workers730 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $59,100$28.41/hr |
| 57 | Locksmiths and safe repairers220 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $59,070$28.40/hr |
| 58 | Mechanical door repairers110 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $58,870$28.30/hr |
| 59 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers60 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $58,690$28.22/hr |
| 60 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics11,980 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $58,390$28.07/hr |
| 61 | Motorcycle mechanics350 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $58,280$28.02/hr |
| 62 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians1,620 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $58,040$27.90/hr |
| 63 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other110 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $57,290$27.54/hr |
| 64 | Painters, construction and maintenance3,810 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $57,270$27.54/hr |
| 65 | Fence erectors+19% vs U.S. | $57,260$27.53/hr |
| 66 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics630 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $55,990$26.92/hr |
| 67 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers80 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $55,880$26.87/hr |
| 68 | Avionics technicians−32% vs U.S. | $55,660$26.76/hr |
| 69 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall1,090 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $54,350$26.13/hr |
| 70 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers40 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $54,330$26.12/hr |
| 71 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers1,720 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $50,540$24.30/hr |
| 72 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles250 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $49,740$23.91/hr |
| 73 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators760 jobs · −29% vs U.S. | $49,640$23.86/hr |
| 74 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers360 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $49,570$23.83/hr |
| 75 | Automotive glass installers and repairers480 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $47,800$22.98/hr |
| 76 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners100 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $44,230$21.27/hr |
| 77 | Tire repairers and changers1,310 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $43,750$21.04/hr |
| 78 | Bicycle repairers180 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $35,210$16.93/hr |
Linked trades have full Minnesota 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 Minnesota, 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 Minnesota median for 10 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 Minnesota?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $128,020 a year ($61.55 an hour) in Minnesota, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Minnesota?
- 4 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Minnesota: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($128,020), insulation workers, mechanical ($105,670), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($104,180), plasterers and stucco masons ($102,530).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Minnesota?
- 65 of the 78 trades ranked here have a median above $56,920, the median for all occupations in Minnesota.
- Do trades pay more in Minnesota than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 69 of the 78 trades have a higher median in Minnesota than nationally. The biggest gap is insulation workers, mechanical: $105,670, 81% above the U.S. median of $58,340.
- Which trade employs the most people in Minnesota?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 29,660 jobs and a median of $59,200 a year.