Highest-paying trades in New Jersey
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in New Jersey, with a median of $137,920 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 61 of the 79 trades ranked here pay more than the $58,570 median for all jobs in New Jersey.
All 79 trades by median pay in New Jersey
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers800 jobs · +25% vs U.S. | $137,920$66.31/hr |
| 2 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers1,310 jobs · +28% vs U.S. | $121,580$58.45/hr |
| 3 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers+97% vs U.S. | $116,110$55.82/hr |
| 4 | Carpet installers390 jobs · +129% vs U.S. | $115,180$55.38/hr |
| 5 | Structural iron and steel workers1,060 jobs · +80% vs U.S. | $113,220$54.43/hr |
| 6 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay450 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $111,600$53.65/hr |
| 7 | Insulation workers, mechanical330 jobs · +84% vs U.S. | $107,610$51.74/hr |
| 8 | Millwrights340 jobs · +64% vs U.S. | $107,540$51.70/hr |
| 9 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians1,900 jobs · +32% vs U.S. | $105,370$50.66/hr |
| 10 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers2,540 jobs · +37% vs U.S. | $102,090$49.08/hr |
| 11 | Avionics technicians260 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $100,250$48.20/hr |
| 12 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door1,000 jobs · +30% vs U.S. | $96,510$46.40/hr |
| 13 | Sheet metal workers2,790 jobs · +50% vs U.S. | $92,840$44.64/hr |
| 14 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators5,980 jobs · +50% vs U.S. | $89,660$43.11/hr |
| 15 | Commercial divers+19% vs U.S. | $86,920$41.79/hr |
| 16 | Signal and track switch repairers260 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $82,990$39.90/hr |
| 17 | Boilermakers280 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $82,410$39.62/hr |
| 18 | Riggers200 jobs · +31% vs U.S. | $82,130$39.49/hr |
| 19 | Construction and building inspectors5,950 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $81,760$39.31/hr |
| 20 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other300 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $80,930$38.91/hr |
| 21 | Solar photovoltaic installers1,880 jobs · +49% vs U.S. | $78,950$37.96/hr |
| 22 | Pipelayers400 jobs · +61% vs U.S. | $78,830$37.90/hr |
| 23 | Rail car repairers410 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $78,750$37.86/hr |
| 24 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters8,750 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $78,240$37.61/hr |
| 25 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines3,520 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $78,180$37.59/hr |
| 26 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers2,690 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $78,000$37.50/hr |
| 27 | Electricians13,520 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $77,250$37.14/hr |
| 28 | Brickmasons and blockmasons520 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $77,010$37.03/hr |
| 29 | Roofers1,860 jobs · +38% vs U.S. | $76,600$36.83/hr |
| 30 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers590 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $75,930$36.51/hr |
| 31 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers1,340 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $75,080$36.09/hr |
| 32 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment1,290 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $74,980$36.05/hr |
| 33 | Industrial machinery mechanics8,380 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $74,760$35.94/hr |
| 34 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers10,330 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $74,450$35.79/hr |
| 35 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists8,160 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $72,340$34.78/hr |
| 36 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians250 jobs · +25% vs U.S. | $71,880$34.56/hr |
| 37 | Glaziers820 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $70,890$34.08/hr |
| 38 | Plasterers and stucco masons50 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $69,990$33.65/hr |
| 39 | Medical equipment repairers2,400 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $68,460$32.91/hr |
| 40 | Mechanical door repairers1,290 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $67,150$32.28/hr |
| 41 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators230 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $66,540$31.99/hr |
| 42 | Stonemasons+15% vs U.S. | $66,210$31.83/hr |
| 43 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers1,060 jobs · +31% vs U.S. | $65,330$31.41/hr |
| 44 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners220 jobs · +30% vs U.S. | $64,650$31.08/hr |
| 45 | Construction laborers23,590 jobs · +36% vs U.S. | $64,060$30.80/hr |
| 46 | Carpenters14,230 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $64,010$30.77/hr |
| 47 | Security and fire alarm systems installers2,740 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $63,140$30.36/hr |
| 48 | Automotive body and related repairers3,720 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $62,400$30.00/hr |
| 49 | Tile and stone setters460 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $62,370$29.99/hr |
| 50 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians260 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $62,300$29.95/hr |
| 51 | Cement masons and concrete finishers2,390 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $61,410$29.52/hr |
| 52 | Automotive glass installers and repairers+28% vs U.S. | $61,040$29.35/hr |
| 53 | Recreational vehicle service technicians90 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $60,760$29.21/hr |
| 54 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers100 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $60,750$29.21/hr |
| 55 | Camera and photographic equipment repairers40 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $60,290$28.99/hr |
| 56 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles700 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $59,840$28.77/hr |
| 57 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers550 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $59,770$28.73/hr |
| 58 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers3,730 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $59,440$28.58/hr |
| 59 | Motorcycle mechanics260 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $59,430$28.57/hr |
| 60 | Painters, construction and maintenance4,110 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $59,250$28.49/hr |
| 61 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners200 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $58,730$28.24/hr |
| 62 | Maintenance workers, machinery310 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $57,920$27.85/hr |
| 63 | Terrazzo workers and finishers100 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $57,550$27.67/hr |
| 64 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers2,190 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $57,330$27.56/hr |
| 65 | Locksmiths and safe repairers480 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $57,000$27.41/hr |
| 66 | Fence erectors910 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $56,690$27.26/hr |
| 67 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics17,640 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $56,610$27.22/hr |
| 68 | Hazardous materials removal workers2,250 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $55,900$26.87/hr |
| 69 | Home appliance repairers1,200 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $55,450$26.66/hr |
| 70 | Maintenance and repair workers, general37,350 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $54,810$26.35/hr |
| 71 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall820 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $52,750$25.36/hr |
| 72 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics660 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $52,000$25.00/hr |
| 73 | Highway maintenance workers4,850 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $51,720$24.87/hr |
| 74 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators840 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $50,500$24.28/hr |
| 75 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other3,970 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $49,920$24.00/hr |
| 76 | Bicycle repairers240 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $49,260$23.69/hr |
| 77 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers650 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $48,780$23.45/hr |
| 78 | Tire repairers and changers2,290 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $44,440$21.36/hr |
| 79 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles170 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $41,070$19.75/hr |
Linked trades have full New Jersey 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 New Jersey, 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $137,920 a year ($66.31 an hour) in New Jersey, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in New Jersey?
- 11 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in New Jersey: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($137,920), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($121,580), reinforcing iron and rebar workers ($116,110), carpet installers ($115,180), structural iron and steel workers ($113,220), electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($111,600), insulation workers, mechanical ($107,610), millwrights ($107,540), aircraft mechanics and service technicians ($105,370), telecommunications line installers and repairers ($102,090), avionics technicians ($100,250).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in New Jersey?
- 61 of the 79 trades ranked here have a median above $58,570, the median for all occupations in New Jersey.
- Do trades pay more in New Jersey than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 72 of the 79 trades have a higher median in New Jersey than nationally. The biggest gap is carpet installers: $115,180, 129% above the U.S. median of $50,340.
- Which trade employs the most people in New Jersey?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 37,350 jobs and a median of $54,810 a year.