Highest-paying trades in Oregon
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Oregon, with a median of $138,600 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 56 of the 77 trades ranked here pay more than the $57,000 median for all jobs in Oregon.
All 77 trades by median pay in Oregon
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers230 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $138,600$66.64/hr |
| 2 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers1,640 jobs · +38% vs U.S. | $131,090$63.02/hr |
| 3 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay170 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $131,050$63.01/hr |
| 4 | Insulation workers, mechanical170 jobs · +105% vs U.S. | $119,480$57.44/hr |
| 5 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment160 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $104,410$50.20/hr |
| 6 | Electricians10,590 jobs · +60% vs U.S. | $101,310$48.71/hr |
| 7 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door490 jobs · +31% vs U.S. | $97,110$46.69/hr |
| 8 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters5,370 jobs · +52% vs U.S. | $97,050$46.66/hr |
| 9 | Structural iron and steel workers570 jobs · +53% vs U.S. | $96,050$46.18/hr |
| 10 | Riggers290 jobs · +51% vs U.S. | $94,470$45.42/hr |
| 11 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers240 jobs · +59% vs U.S. | $93,490$44.95/hr |
| 12 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment840 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $91,910$44.19/hr |
| 13 | Rail car repairers230 jobs · +30% vs U.S. | $87,470$42.05/hr |
| 14 | Construction and building inspectors1,780 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $84,510$40.63/hr |
| 15 | Avionics technicians140 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $83,830$40.30/hr |
| 16 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians1,080 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $82,850$39.83/hr |
| 17 | Brickmasons and blockmasons650 jobs · +28% vs U.S. | $79,450$38.20/hr |
| 18 | Medical equipment repairers490 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $76,600$36.83/hr |
| 19 | Security and fire alarm systems installers950 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $75,710$36.40/hr |
| 20 | Industrial machinery mechanics7,070 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $75,670$36.38/hr |
| 21 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers1,710 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $75,270$36.19/hr |
| 22 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines2,650 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $74,740$35.93/hr |
| 23 | Sheet metal workers3,250 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $73,750$35.46/hr |
| 24 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers1,680 jobs · +25% vs U.S. | $73,530$35.35/hr |
| 25 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators5,630 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $73,430$35.30/hr |
| 26 | Tapers500 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $71,450$34.35/hr |
| 27 | Plasterers and stucco masons170 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $71,180$34.22/hr |
| 28 | Glaziers700 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $70,890$34.08/hr |
| 29 | Millwrights460 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $70,700$33.99/hr |
| 30 | Cement masons and concrete finishers2,170 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $68,530$32.95/hr |
| 31 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other−1% vs U.S. | $68,350$32.86/hr |
| 32 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians140 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $66,460$31.95/hr |
| 33 | Solar photovoltaic installers360 jobs · +25% vs U.S. | $66,320$31.88/hr |
| 34 | Highway maintenance workers1,650 jobs · +30% vs U.S. | $65,330$31.41/hr |
| 35 | Pipelayers620 jobs · +31% vs U.S. | $64,230$30.88/hr |
| 36 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists3,770 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $63,970$30.76/hr |
| 37 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators520 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $63,310$30.44/hr |
| 38 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers3,980 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $62,940$30.26/hr |
| 39 | Carpenters15,110 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $62,870$30.23/hr |
| 40 | Floor sanders and finishers+23% vs U.S. | $62,020$29.82/hr |
| 41 | Wind turbine service technicians150 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $61,820$29.72/hr |
| 42 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers320 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $61,020$29.34/hr |
| 43 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians660 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $60,830$29.24/hr |
| 44 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers920 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $60,330$29.00/hr |
| 45 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall700 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $60,210$28.95/hr |
| 46 | Automotive body and related repairers1,660 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $60,000$28.85/hr |
| 47 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers130 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $59,890$28.79/hr |
| 48 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers5,240 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $59,450$28.58/hr |
| 49 | Roofers3,430 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $58,970$28.35/hr |
| 50 | Tile and stone setters790 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $58,790$28.27/hr |
| 51 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics6,990 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $58,520$28.14/hr |
| 52 | Motorcycle mechanics160 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $58,040$27.91/hr |
| 53 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners560 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $57,920$27.84/hr |
| 54 | Carpet installers520 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $57,800$27.79/hr |
| 55 | Maintenance workers, machinery430 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $57,440$27.62/hr |
| 56 | Automotive glass installers and repairers280 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $57,270$27.54/hr |
| 57 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles300 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $56,460$27.14/hr |
| 58 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers310 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $56,100$26.97/hr |
| 59 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles200 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $56,000$26.92/hr |
| 60 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners40 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $54,800$26.35/hr |
| 61 | Recreational vehicle service technicians650 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $54,570$26.24/hr |
| 62 | Maintenance and repair workers, general16,160 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $54,350$26.13/hr |
| 63 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other2,650 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $52,230$25.11/hr |
| 64 | Home appliance repairers680 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $51,160$24.60/hr |
| 65 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers190 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $51,110$24.57/hr |
| 66 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators190 jobs · −27% vs U.S. | $50,930$24.49/hr |
| 67 | Construction laborers12,620 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $50,860$24.45/hr |
| 68 | Locksmiths and safe repairers250 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $50,450$24.25/hr |
| 69 | Mechanical door repairers320 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $50,090$24.08/hr |
| 70 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics280 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $50,020$24.05/hr |
| 71 | Hazardous materials removal workers1,130 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $49,720$23.90/hr |
| 72 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers230 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $49,260$23.68/hr |
| 73 | Painters, construction and maintenance5,410 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $48,900$23.51/hr |
| 74 | Tire repairers and changers2,260 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $47,650$22.91/hr |
| 75 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers1,050 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $46,950$22.57/hr |
| 76 | Bicycle repairers570 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $45,600$21.93/hr |
| 77 | Fence erectors−7% vs U.S. | $44,580$21.43/hr |
Linked trades have full Oregon 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 Oregon, 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 Oregon median for 11 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 Oregon?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $138,600 a year ($66.64 an hour) in Oregon, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Oregon?
- 6 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Oregon: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($138,600), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($131,090), electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($131,050), insulation workers, mechanical ($119,480), electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment ($104,410), electricians ($101,310).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Oregon?
- 56 of the 77 trades ranked here have a median above $57,000, the median for all occupations in Oregon.
- Do trades pay more in Oregon than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 63 of the 77 trades have a higher median in Oregon than nationally. The biggest gap is insulation workers, mechanical: $119,480, 105% above the U.S. median of $58,340.
- Which trade employs the most people in Oregon?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 16,160 jobs and a median of $54,350 a year.