Highest-paying trades in Missouri
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Missouri, with a median of $126,750 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 66 of the 80 trades ranked here pay more than the $47,800 median for all jobs in Missouri.
All 80 trades by median pay in Missouri
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers450 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $126,750$60.94/hr |
| 2 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay290 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $96,850$46.56/hr |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers3,440 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $96,360$46.33/hr |
| 4 | Signal and track switch repairers250 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $86,300$41.49/hr |
| 5 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other30 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $81,330$39.10/hr |
| 6 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment170 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $81,220$39.05/hr |
| 7 | Plasterers and stucco masons420 jobs · +38% vs U.S. | $79,380$38.16/hr |
| 8 | Insulation workers, mechanical830 jobs · +35% vs U.S. | $78,660$37.82/hr |
| 9 | Boilermakers100 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $78,550$37.76/hr |
| 10 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door620 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $77,650$37.33/hr |
| 11 | Structural iron and steel workers1,320 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $77,410$37.22/hr |
| 12 | Brickmasons and blockmasons1,940 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $72,370$34.80/hr |
| 13 | Avionics technicians90 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $71,520$34.39/hr |
| 14 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians1,700 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $71,470$34.36/hr |
| 15 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators1,560 jobs · +30% vs U.S. | $69,400$33.37/hr |
| 16 | Rail car repairers220 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $68,290$32.83/hr |
| 17 | Industrial machinery mechanics5,420 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $67,390$32.40/hr |
| 18 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters8,310 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $66,790$32.11/hr |
| 19 | Millwrights830 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $66,480$31.96/hr |
| 20 | Electricians12,780 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $65,410$31.45/hr |
| 21 | Wind turbine service technicians80 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $65,230$31.36/hr |
| 22 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators410 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $64,390$30.96/hr |
| 23 | Carpet installers230 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $63,960$30.75/hr |
| 24 | Maintenance workers, machinery2,180 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $63,720$30.63/hr |
| 25 | Sheet metal workers2,640 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $63,560$30.56/hr |
| 26 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines3,370 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $63,390$30.48/hr |
| 27 | Commercial divers−14% vs U.S. | $63,030$30.30/hr |
| 28 | Tapers220 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $63,020$30.30/hr |
| 29 | Construction and building inspectors1,640 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $62,970$30.27/hr |
| 30 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers550 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $62,580$30.09/hr |
| 31 | Cement masons and concrete finishers6,220 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $61,390$29.51/hr |
| 32 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment590 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $60,950$29.30/hr |
| 33 | Carpenters14,410 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $60,840$29.25/hr |
| 34 | Tile and stone setters470 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $60,590$29.13/hr |
| 35 | Automotive body and related repairers4,350 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $60,540$29.11/hr |
| 36 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators10,470 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $60,540$29.10/hr |
| 37 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers7,220 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $59,950$28.82/hr |
| 38 | Paperhangers+14% vs U.S. | $59,560$28.63/hr |
| 39 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers320 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $59,410$28.56/hr |
| 40 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists6,780 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $59,360$28.54/hr |
| 41 | Hazardous materials removal workers370 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $59,120$28.42/hr |
| 42 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers2,710 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $59,080$28.41/hr |
| 43 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers2,260 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $57,610$27.70/hr |
| 44 | Painters, construction and maintenance3,980 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $57,510$27.65/hr |
| 45 | Medical equipment repairers1,540 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $57,340$27.57/hr |
| 46 | Construction laborers17,050 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $56,730$27.28/hr |
| 47 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall830 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $56,040$26.94/hr |
| 48 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers40 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $55,390$26.63/hr |
| 49 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics690 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $55,120$26.50/hr |
| 50 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles590 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $54,710$26.30/hr |
| 51 | Security and fire alarm systems installers1,790 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $54,620$26.26/hr |
| 52 | Riggers190 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $54,190$26.05/hr |
| 53 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers130 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $52,450$25.21/hr |
| 54 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other2,390 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $52,000$25.00/hr |
| 55 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers10,600 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $51,950$24.98/hr |
| 56 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners1,160 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $51,560$24.79/hr |
| 57 | Glaziers630 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $51,430$24.73/hr |
| 58 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians960 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $51,330$24.68/hr |
| 59 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers580 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $50,540$24.30/hr |
| 60 | Locksmiths and safe repairers220 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $50,140$24.11/hr |
| 61 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics17,210 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $49,160$23.63/hr |
| 62 | Mechanical door repairers590 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $49,100$23.61/hr |
| 63 | Roofers2,050 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $48,570$23.35/hr |
| 64 | Floor sanders and finishers−4% vs U.S. | $48,540$23.34/hr |
| 65 | Home appliance repairers890 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $48,530$23.33/hr |
| 66 | Maintenance and repair workers, general31,180 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $48,370$23.26/hr |
| 67 | Highway maintenance workers5,470 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $47,470$22.82/hr |
| 68 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners110 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $47,220$22.70/hr |
| 69 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers220 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $47,120$22.65/hr |
| 70 | Automotive glass installers and repairers580 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $47,060$22.63/hr |
| 71 | Recreational vehicle service technicians460 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $46,980$22.59/hr |
| 72 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers490 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $45,090$21.68/hr |
| 73 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers570 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $44,220$21.26/hr |
| 74 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers1,090 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $44,080$21.19/hr |
| 75 | Stonemasons200 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $43,880$21.10/hr |
| 76 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians330 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $43,580$20.95/hr |
| 77 | Fence erectors640 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $43,290$20.81/hr |
| 78 | Tire repairers and changers2,110 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $38,920$18.71/hr |
| 79 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles70 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $38,760$18.64/hr |
| 80 | Bicycle repairers180 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $38,170$18.35/hr |
Linked trades have full Missouri 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 Missouri, 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 Missouri median for 8 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 Missouri?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $126,750 a year ($60.94 an hour) in Missouri, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Missouri?
- One trade has a median of $100,000 or more in Missouri: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($126,750).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Missouri?
- 66 of the 80 trades ranked here have a median above $47,800, the median for all occupations in Missouri.
- Do trades pay more in Missouri than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 36 of the 80 trades have a higher median in Missouri than nationally. The biggest gap is plasterers and stucco masons: $79,380, 38% above the U.S. median of $57,660.
- Which trade employs the most people in Missouri?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 31,180 jobs and a median of $48,370 a year.