Highest-paying trades in North Dakota
Updated September 27, 2026
Electrical power-line installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in North Dakota, with a median of $105,870 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 41 of the 63 trades ranked here pay more than the $52,480 median for all jobs in North Dakota.
All 63 trades by median pay in North Dakota
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers740 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $105,870$50.90/hr |
| 2 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door270 jobs · +39% vs U.S. | $103,580$49.80/hr |
| 3 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment520 jobs · +33% vs U.S. | $98,700$47.45/hr |
| 4 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers470 jobs · +42% vs U.S. | $90,890$43.70/hr |
| 5 | Structural iron and steel workers270 jobs · +31% vs U.S. | $82,120$39.48/hr |
| 6 | Brickmasons and blockmasons150 jobs · +29% vs U.S. | $79,940$38.43/hr |
| 7 | Construction and building inspectors180 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $78,570$37.78/hr |
| 8 | Riggers140 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $77,890$37.45/hr |
| 9 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians200 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $77,740$37.38/hr |
| 10 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines1,720 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $76,030$36.55/hr |
| 11 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay80 jobs · −27% vs U.S. | $75,050$36.08/hr |
| 12 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers970 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $74,490$35.81/hr |
| 13 | Medical equipment repairers270 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $73,610$35.39/hr |
| 14 | Wind turbine service technicians310 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $66,700$32.07/hr |
| 15 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers260 jobs · +33% vs U.S. | $66,450$31.95/hr |
| 16 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists1,790 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $66,110$31.78/hr |
| 17 | Industrial machinery mechanics2,560 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $65,990$31.72/hr |
| 18 | Electricians3,570 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $65,710$31.59/hr |
| 19 | Sheet metal workers290 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $65,180$31.34/hr |
| 20 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters1,620 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $63,560$30.56/hr |
| 21 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians770 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $63,030$30.30/hr |
| 22 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators4,890 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $62,150$29.88/hr |
| 23 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers2,590 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $62,000$29.81/hr |
| 24 | Glaziers80 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $61,800$29.71/hr |
| 25 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers160 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $61,160$29.41/hr |
| 26 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians70 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $60,990$29.32/hr |
| 27 | Millwrights170 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $60,750$29.21/hr |
| 28 | Highway maintenance workers1,240 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $60,630$29.15/hr |
| 29 | Hazardous materials removal workers170 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $60,160$28.92/hr |
| 30 | Avionics technicians80 jobs · −27% vs U.S. | $59,900$28.80/hr |
| 31 | Roofers290 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $59,740$28.72/hr |
| 32 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers300 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $59,280$28.50/hr |
| 33 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers160 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $58,720$28.23/hr |
| 34 | Insulation workers, mechanical400 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $58,140$27.95/hr |
| 35 | Carpenters2,360 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $57,890$27.83/hr |
| 36 | Cement masons and concrete finishers1,190 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $57,710$27.74/hr |
| 37 | Security and fire alarm systems installers150 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $57,620$27.70/hr |
| 38 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics2,140 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $57,360$27.58/hr |
| 39 | Automotive glass installers and repairers40 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $56,280$27.06/hr |
| 40 | Automotive body and related repairers680 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $55,160$26.52/hr |
| 41 | Painters, construction and maintenance420 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $54,870$26.38/hr |
| 42 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other790 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $52,040$25.02/hr |
| 43 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers40 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $50,890$24.46/hr |
| 44 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics190 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $50,540$24.30/hr |
| 45 | Recreational vehicle service technicians60 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $50,390$24.23/hr |
| 46 | Motorcycle mechanics110 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $50,170$24.12/hr |
| 47 | Maintenance and repair workers, general3,300 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $49,840$23.96/hr |
| 48 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers40 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $49,820$23.95/hr |
| 49 | Fence erectors190 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $49,310$23.71/hr |
| 50 | Construction laborers5,050 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $49,070$23.59/hr |
| 51 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers210 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $48,870$23.49/hr |
| 52 | Home appliance repairers50 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $48,720$23.42/hr |
| 53 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles90 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $48,050$23.10/hr |
| 54 | Pipelayers170 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $47,810$22.99/hr |
| 55 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles100 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $47,310$22.75/hr |
| 56 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners30 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $46,780$22.49/hr |
| 57 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall260 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $46,450$22.33/hr |
| 58 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners70 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $46,340$22.28/hr |
| 59 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers130 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $45,110$21.69/hr |
| 60 | Locksmiths and safe repairers70 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $44,310$21.30/hr |
| 61 | Tile and stone setters70 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $42,620$20.49/hr |
| 62 | Tire repairers and changers560 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $38,220$18.38/hr |
| 63 | Bicycle repairers100 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $34,440$16.56/hr |
Linked trades have full North Dakota 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 Dakota, 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 Dakota median for 25 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 Dakota?
- Electrical power-line installers and repairers, with a median of $105,870 a year ($50.90 an hour) in North Dakota, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in North Dakota?
- 2 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in North Dakota: electrical power-line installers and repairers ($105,870), control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door ($103,580).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in North Dakota?
- 41 of the 63 trades ranked here have a median above $52,480, the median for all occupations in North Dakota.
- Do trades pay more in North Dakota than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 41 of the 63 trades have a higher median in North Dakota than nationally. The biggest gap is telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers: $90,890, 42% above the U.S. median of $63,890.
- Which trade employs the most people in North Dakota?
- Construction laborers, with about 5,050 jobs and a median of $49,070 a year.