Highest-paying trades in North Carolina
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in North Carolina, with a median of $107,700 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 45 of the 79 trades ranked here pay more than the $47,970 median for all jobs in North Carolina.
All 79 trades by median pay in North Carolina
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers240 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $107,700$51.78/hr |
| 2 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay950 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $104,710$50.34/hr |
| 3 | Avionics technicians520 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $78,710$37.84/hr |
| 4 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers5,650 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $77,270$37.15/hr |
| 5 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians4,700 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $76,980$37.01/hr |
| 6 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment1,660 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $76,740$36.89/hr |
| 7 | Wind turbine service technicians120 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $66,380$31.91/hr |
| 8 | Construction and building inspectors6,490 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $66,080$31.77/hr |
| 9 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door1,440 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $64,820$31.16/hr |
| 10 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines5,100 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $64,080$30.81/hr |
| 11 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers3,540 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $63,970$30.75/hr |
| 12 | Millwrights700 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $62,990$30.29/hr |
| 13 | Industrial machinery mechanics15,720 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $62,430$30.02/hr |
| 14 | Recreational vehicle service technicians400 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $62,000$29.81/hr |
| 15 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other360 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $61,070$29.36/hr |
| 16 | Automotive glass installers and repairers790 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $60,710$29.19/hr |
| 17 | Maintenance workers, machinery4,750 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $60,580$29.13/hr |
| 18 | Medical equipment repairers2,650 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $59,190$28.46/hr |
| 19 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists11,070 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $57,490$27.64/hr |
| 20 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers15,230 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $57,260$27.53/hr |
| 21 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters14,510 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $57,080$27.44/hr |
| 22 | Electricians21,640 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $56,800$27.31/hr |
| 23 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers2,610 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $56,680$27.25/hr |
| 24 | Riggers440 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $56,640$27.23/hr |
| 25 | Security and fire alarm systems installers2,880 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $54,120$26.02/hr |
| 26 | Stonemasons−8% vs U.S. | $52,760$25.37/hr |
| 27 | Mechanical door repairers790 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $52,050$25.03/hr |
| 28 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles490 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $51,700$24.86/hr |
| 29 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers90 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $51,690$24.85/hr |
| 30 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers160 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $51,460$24.74/hr |
| 31 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians930 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $51,430$24.72/hr |
| 32 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians300 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $50,750$24.40/hr |
| 33 | Sheet metal workers2,780 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $50,730$24.39/hr |
| 34 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers11,750 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $50,590$24.32/hr |
| 35 | Automotive body and related repairers5,180 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $50,520$24.29/hr |
| 36 | Brickmasons and blockmasons1,760 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $49,940$24.01/hr |
| 37 | Boilermakers150 jobs · −35% vs U.S. | $49,720$23.90/hr |
| 38 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators16,580 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $49,310$23.71/hr |
| 39 | Carpenters13,480 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $49,100$23.61/hr |
| 40 | Roofers3,060 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $49,010$23.56/hr |
| 41 | Structural iron and steel workers2,000 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $48,740$23.43/hr |
| 42 | Motorcycle mechanics440 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $48,670$23.40/hr |
| 43 | Paperhangers100 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $48,590$23.36/hr |
| 44 | Insulation workers, mechanical1,090 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $48,430$23.28/hr |
| 45 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics26,510 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $48,200$23.17/hr |
| 46 | Maintenance and repair workers, general43,440 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $47,910$23.03/hr |
| 47 | Highway maintenance workers3,750 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $47,880$23.02/hr |
| 48 | Rail car repairers350 jobs · −29% vs U.S. | $47,880$23.02/hr |
| 49 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators1,940 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $47,820$22.99/hr |
| 50 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators270 jobs · −32% vs U.S. | $47,700$22.93/hr |
| 51 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers1,010 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $47,510$22.84/hr |
| 52 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics1,950 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $47,370$22.77/hr |
| 53 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners1,020 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $47,280$22.73/hr |
| 54 | Home appliance repairers960 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $47,270$22.73/hr |
| 55 | Pipelayers3,830 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,220$22.70/hr |
| 56 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers280 jobs · −26% vs U.S. | $47,040$22.62/hr |
| 57 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers3,160 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $46,890$22.55/hr |
| 58 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles190 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $46,850$22.52/hr |
| 59 | Cement masons and concrete finishers4,610 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $46,780$22.49/hr |
| 60 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other4,650 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $46,780$22.49/hr |
| 61 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers750 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $46,320$22.27/hr |
| 62 | Glaziers840 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $46,170$22.20/hr |
| 63 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers520 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $46,010$22.12/hr |
| 64 | Locksmiths and safe repairers480 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $45,900$22.07/hr |
| 65 | Tapers−33% vs U.S. | $45,770$22.01/hr |
| 66 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers1,520 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $45,080$21.67/hr |
| 67 | Construction laborers35,620 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $44,720$21.50/hr |
| 68 | Tile and stone setters680 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $44,650$21.47/hr |
| 69 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers660 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $44,490$21.39/hr |
| 70 | Painters, construction and maintenance5,220 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $44,110$21.21/hr |
| 71 | Solar photovoltaic installers710 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $43,860$21.09/hr |
| 72 | Hazardous materials removal workers1,250 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $43,180$20.76/hr |
| 73 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall2,090 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $42,990$20.67/hr |
| 74 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners−7% vs U.S. | $42,970$20.66/hr |
| 75 | Camera and photographic equipment repairers30 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $41,140$19.78/hr |
| 76 | Floor sanders and finishers190 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $39,170$18.83/hr |
| 77 | Fence erectors670 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $39,100$18.80/hr |
| 78 | Bicycle repairers210 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $36,500$17.55/hr |
| 79 | Tire repairers and changers3,690 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $35,140$16.89/hr |
Linked trades have full North Carolina 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $107,700 a year ($51.78 an hour) in North Carolina, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in North Carolina?
- 2 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in North Carolina: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($107,700), electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($104,710).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in North Carolina?
- 45 of the 79 trades ranked here have a median above $47,970, the median for all occupations in North Carolina.
- Do trades pay more in North Carolina than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 6 of the 79 trades have a higher median in North Carolina than nationally. The biggest gap is automotive glass installers and repairers: $60,710, 27% above the U.S. median of $47,630.
- Which trade employs the most people in North Carolina?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 43,440 jobs and a median of $47,910 a year.