Highest-paying trades in Virginia
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Virginia, with a median of $108,250 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 44 of the 83 trades ranked here pay more than the $55,690 median for all jobs in Virginia.
All 83 trades by median pay in Virginia
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers280 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $108,250$52.04/hr |
| 2 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay910 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $99,390$47.79/hr |
| 3 | Signal and track switch repairers170 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $95,620$45.97/hr |
| 4 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment240 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $87,860$42.24/hr |
| 5 | Avionics technicians250 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $85,660$41.18/hr |
| 6 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators360 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $84,750$40.75/hr |
| 7 | Rail car repairers210 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $83,720$40.25/hr |
| 8 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians2,260 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $82,200$39.52/hr |
| 9 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other140 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $81,850$39.35/hr |
| 10 | Watch and clock repairers+20% vs U.S. | $80,410$38.66/hr |
| 11 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers4,120 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $79,090$38.03/hr |
| 12 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers2,920 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $76,590$36.82/hr |
| 13 | Construction and building inspectors6,550 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $75,660$36.38/hr |
| 14 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment1,570 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $71,320$34.29/hr |
| 15 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door820 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $68,000$32.69/hr |
| 16 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers660 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $67,790$32.59/hr |
| 17 | Boilermakers150 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $67,540$32.47/hr |
| 18 | Maintenance workers, machinery1,420 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $65,500$31.49/hr |
| 19 | Camera and photographic equipment repairers+24% vs U.S. | $65,170$31.33/hr |
| 20 | Plasterers and stucco masons100 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $64,120$30.83/hr |
| 21 | Industrial machinery mechanics9,470 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $64,020$30.78/hr |
| 22 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines4,340 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $63,950$30.74/hr |
| 23 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers570 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $63,690$30.62/hr |
| 24 | Riggers1,920 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $63,620$30.59/hr |
| 25 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians+10% vs U.S. | $63,450$30.51/hr |
| 26 | Electricians23,630 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $62,900$30.24/hr |
| 27 | Commercial divers−15% vs U.S. | $62,340$29.97/hr |
| 28 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers3,310 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $61,340$29.49/hr |
| 29 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists8,070 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $61,090$29.37/hr |
| 30 | Medical equipment repairers1,360 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $61,070$29.36/hr |
| 31 | Security and fire alarm systems installers2,130 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $60,790$29.23/hr |
| 32 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters13,780 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $60,470$29.07/hr |
| 33 | Structural iron and steel workers2,300 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $60,260$28.97/hr |
| 34 | Pile driver operators150 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $59,910$28.81/hr |
| 35 | Home appliance repairers870 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $59,820$28.76/hr |
| 36 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers14,690 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $59,730$28.72/hr |
| 37 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics17,880 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $59,330$28.53/hr |
| 38 | Glaziers890 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $59,260$28.49/hr |
| 39 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers10,100 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $59,180$28.45/hr |
| 40 | Automotive body and related repairers3,720 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $57,760$27.77/hr |
| 41 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators12,100 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $57,160$27.48/hr |
| 42 | Insulation workers, mechanical1,350 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $57,010$27.41/hr |
| 43 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers370 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $56,310$27.07/hr |
| 44 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers2,480 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $55,840$26.84/hr |
| 45 | Carpenters20,460 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $55,690$26.77/hr |
| 46 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers−7% vs U.S. | $55,120$26.50/hr |
| 47 | Brickmasons and blockmasons2,350 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $54,680$26.29/hr |
| 48 | Locksmiths and safe repairers430 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $53,590$25.76/hr |
| 49 | Sheet metal workers4,520 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $52,220$25.10/hr |
| 50 | Millwrights690 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $51,430$24.73/hr |
| 51 | Cement masons and concrete finishers4,020 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $50,930$24.49/hr |
| 52 | Mechanical door repairers380 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $50,880$24.46/hr |
| 53 | Highway maintenance workers3,400 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $50,800$24.42/hr |
| 54 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers30 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $50,500$24.28/hr |
| 55 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles270 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $50,440$24.25/hr |
| 56 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers570 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $49,880$23.98/hr |
| 57 | Maintenance and repair workers, general34,540 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $49,470$23.79/hr |
| 58 | Motorcycle mechanics300 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $49,400$23.75/hr |
| 59 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles440 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $49,210$23.66/hr |
| 60 | Solar photovoltaic installers−7% vs U.S. | $49,190$23.65/hr |
| 61 | Carpet installers210 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $48,920$23.52/hr |
| 62 | Tile and stone setters750 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $48,880$23.50/hr |
| 63 | Pipelayers1,080 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $48,700$23.41/hr |
| 64 | Stonemasons−15% vs U.S. | $48,550$23.34/hr |
| 65 | Roofers2,070 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $48,420$23.28/hr |
| 66 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators1,660 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $48,060$23.10/hr |
| 67 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other5,580 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $47,910$23.03/hr |
| 68 | Automotive glass installers and repairers650 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $47,730$22.95/hr |
| 69 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians460 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $47,700$22.93/hr |
| 70 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics1,240 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $47,480$22.83/hr |
| 71 | Painters, construction and maintenance5,930 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,470$22.82/hr |
| 72 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners890 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $47,150$22.67/hr |
| 73 | Floor sanders and finishers110 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $46,860$22.53/hr |
| 74 | Hazardous materials removal workers930 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $45,320$21.79/hr |
| 75 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners120 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $45,140$21.70/hr |
| 76 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall−9% vs U.S. | $44,810$21.54/hr |
| 77 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers1,530 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $44,750$21.51/hr |
| 78 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers420 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $44,720$21.50/hr |
| 79 | Construction laborers25,830 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $43,560$20.94/hr |
| 80 | Tire repairers and changers2,430 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $42,370$20.37/hr |
| 81 | Recreational vehicle service technicians340 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $41,280$19.85/hr |
| 82 | Fence erectors−17% vs U.S. | $40,050$19.26/hr |
| 83 | Bicycle repairers190 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $36,420$17.51/hr |
Linked trades have full Virginia 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 Virginia, 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 Virginia median for 5 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 Virginia?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $108,250 a year ($52.04 an hour) in Virginia, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Virginia?
- One trade has a median of $100,000 or more in Virginia: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($108,250).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Virginia?
- 44 of the 83 trades ranked here have a median above $55,690, the median for all occupations in Virginia.
- Do trades pay more in Virginia than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 30 of the 83 trades have a higher median in Virginia than nationally. The biggest gap is rail car repairers: $83,720, 24% above the U.S. median of $67,530.
- Which trade employs the most people in Virginia?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 34,540 jobs and a median of $49,470 a year.