Highest-paying trades in Oklahoma
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Oklahoma, with a median of $105,430 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 51 of the 75 trades ranked here pay more than the $45,600 median for all jobs in Oklahoma.
All 75 trades by median pay in Oklahoma
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers140 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $105,430$50.69/hr |
| 2 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay330 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $97,800$47.02/hr |
| 3 | Boilermakers+2% vs U.S. | $77,750$37.38/hr |
| 4 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers3,290 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $76,010$36.54/hr |
| 5 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment800 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $75,480$36.29/hr |
| 6 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians8,550 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $74,390$35.77/hr |
| 7 | Avionics technicians530 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $70,640$33.96/hr |
| 8 | Sheet metal workers2,820 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $65,640$31.56/hr |
| 9 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment−24% vs U.S. | $64,120$30.83/hr |
| 10 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door1,320 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $62,780$30.18/hr |
| 11 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators310 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $61,860$29.74/hr |
| 12 | Insulation workers, mechanical250 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $61,840$29.73/hr |
| 13 | Industrial machinery mechanics6,250 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $61,540$29.59/hr |
| 14 | Electricians8,500 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $61,010$29.33/hr |
| 15 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other230 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $60,850$29.26/hr |
| 16 | Rail car repairers90 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $60,540$29.10/hr |
| 17 | Wind turbine service technicians340 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $59,290$28.51/hr |
| 18 | Construction and building inspectors2,090 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $59,280$28.50/hr |
| 19 | Recreational vehicle service technicians270 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $58,990$28.36/hr |
| 20 | Maintenance workers, machinery1,530 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $58,970$28.35/hr |
| 21 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians380 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $58,860$28.30/hr |
| 22 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines2,800 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $58,130$27.95/hr |
| 23 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters6,050 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $57,970$27.87/hr |
| 24 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers5,650 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $57,560$27.67/hr |
| 25 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers130 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $55,880$26.87/hr |
| 26 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists3,970 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $55,340$26.61/hr |
| 27 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers780 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $51,880$24.94/hr |
| 28 | Millwrights510 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $50,950$24.50/hr |
| 29 | Brickmasons and blockmasons580 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $50,620$24.34/hr |
| 30 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers130 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $50,370$24.22/hr |
| 31 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers1,660 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $50,350$24.21/hr |
| 32 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers9,960 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $49,720$23.90/hr |
| 33 | Plasterers and stucco masons−14% vs U.S. | $49,450$23.78/hr |
| 34 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other970 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $49,420$23.76/hr |
| 35 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers1,410 jobs · −34% vs U.S. | $48,900$23.51/hr |
| 36 | Automotive body and related repairers2,330 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $48,810$23.47/hr |
| 37 | Riggers300 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $48,490$23.31/hr |
| 38 | Medical equipment repairers900 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $48,440$23.29/hr |
| 39 | Security and fire alarm systems installers1,340 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $48,240$23.19/hr |
| 40 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers920 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $48,160$23.16/hr |
| 41 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators7,050 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $47,970$23.06/hr |
| 42 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers150 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $47,880$23.02/hr |
| 43 | Structural iron and steel workers1,140 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $47,660$22.92/hr |
| 44 | Carpenters3,820 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $46,910$22.55/hr |
| 45 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall570 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $46,880$22.54/hr |
| 46 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators550 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $46,760$22.48/hr |
| 47 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics8,870 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $46,560$22.38/hr |
| 48 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers−7% vs U.S. | $46,460$22.34/hr |
| 49 | Mechanical door repairers610 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $46,100$22.16/hr |
| 50 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers280 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $46,080$22.15/hr |
| 51 | Cement masons and concrete finishers2,980 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $45,750$22.00/hr |
| 52 | Glaziers430 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $45,380$21.82/hr |
| 53 | Pipelayers530 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $45,190$21.73/hr |
| 54 | Painters, construction and maintenance1,880 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $44,900$21.59/hr |
| 55 | Motorcycle mechanics240 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $44,740$21.51/hr |
| 56 | Tile and stone setters280 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $44,340$21.32/hr |
| 57 | Hazardous materials removal workers650 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $44,300$21.30/hr |
| 58 | Roofers1,260 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $43,680$21.00/hr |
| 59 | Maintenance and repair workers, general18,670 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $42,750$20.55/hr |
| 60 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics380 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $42,630$20.50/hr |
| 61 | Carpet installers50 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $42,490$20.43/hr |
| 62 | Automotive glass installers and repairers150 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $41,350$19.88/hr |
| 63 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners670 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $40,960$19.69/hr |
| 64 | Stonemasons−29% vs U.S. | $40,930$19.68/hr |
| 65 | Home appliance repairers280 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $40,210$19.33/hr |
| 66 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians260 jobs · −31% vs U.S. | $39,920$19.19/hr |
| 67 | Construction laborers13,710 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $39,360$18.92/hr |
| 68 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers690 jobs · −31% vs U.S. | $38,880$18.69/hr |
| 69 | Highway maintenance workers3,180 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $38,840$18.67/hr |
| 70 | Locksmiths and safe repairers180 jobs · −25% vs U.S. | $38,680$18.59/hr |
| 71 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles140 jobs · −33% vs U.S. | $38,030$18.29/hr |
| 72 | Fence erectors250 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $37,870$18.21/hr |
| 73 | Tire repairers and changers1,460 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $34,890$16.78/hr |
| 74 | Bicycle repairers60 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $34,650$16.66/hr |
| 75 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners60 jobs · −33% vs U.S. | $31,160$14.98/hr |
Linked trades have full Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma, 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 Oklahoma median for 13 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 Oklahoma?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $105,430 a year ($50.69 an hour) in Oklahoma, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Oklahoma?
- One trade has a median of $100,000 or more in Oklahoma: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($105,430).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Oklahoma?
- 51 of the 75 trades ranked here have a median above $45,600, the median for all occupations in Oklahoma.
- Do trades pay more in Oklahoma than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 8 of the 75 trades have a higher median in Oklahoma than nationally. The biggest gap is recreational vehicle service technicians: $58,990, 13% above the U.S. median of $52,000.
- Which trade employs the most people in Oklahoma?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 18,670 jobs and a median of $42,750 a year.