Highest-paying trades in Washington
Updated September 27, 2026
Commercial divers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Washington, with a median of $161,800 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 52 of the 84 trades ranked here pay more than the $62,990 median for all jobs in Washington.
All 84 trades by median pay in Washington
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial divers+122% vs U.S. | $161,800$77.79/hr |
| 2 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers540 jobs · +25% vs U.S. | $137,180$65.95/hr |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers2,340 jobs · +40% vs U.S. | $133,060$63.97/hr |
| 4 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay410 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $125,620$60.39/hr |
| 5 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment230 jobs · +44% vs U.S. | $122,140$58.72/hr |
| 6 | Signal and track switch repairers210 jobs · +32% vs U.S. | $121,710$58.51/hr |
| 7 | Pile driver operators50 jobs · +52% vs U.S. | $111,080$53.40/hr |
| 8 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers130 jobs · +85% vs U.S. | $108,970$52.39/hr |
| 9 | Structural iron and steel workers850 jobs · +71% vs U.S. | $107,660$51.76/hr |
| 10 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door450 jobs · +38% vs U.S. | $102,870$49.46/hr |
| 11 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment1,660 jobs · +34% vs U.S. | $99,200$47.69/hr |
| 12 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians4,480 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $98,980$47.59/hr |
| 13 | Sheet metal workers3,440 jobs · +59% vs U.S. | $98,550$47.38/hr |
| 14 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other340 jobs · +43% vs U.S. | $98,340$47.28/hr |
| 15 | Construction and building inspectors3,090 jobs · +29% vs U.S. | $96,140$46.22/hr |
| 16 | Electricians19,380 jobs · +51% vs U.S. | $95,220$45.78/hr |
| 17 | Boilermakers190 jobs · +25% vs U.S. | $95,200$45.77/hr |
| 18 | Insulation workers, mechanical500 jobs · +58% vs U.S. | $92,120$44.29/hr |
| 19 | Avionics technicians3,400 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $91,380$43.93/hr |
| 20 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators530 jobs · +70% vs U.S. | $90,530$43.53/hr |
| 21 | Brickmasons and blockmasons600 jobs · +34% vs U.S. | $83,190$40.00/hr |
| 22 | Pipelayers1,050 jobs · +68% vs U.S. | $82,450$39.64/hr |
| 23 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators10,290 jobs · +37% vs U.S. | $81,700$39.28/hr |
| 24 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters12,470 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $81,030$38.96/hr |
| 25 | Tapers1,550 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $79,040$38.00/hr |
| 26 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers240 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $79,020$37.99/hr |
| 27 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines3,900 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $78,620$37.80/hr |
| 28 | Stonemasons350 jobs · +36% vs U.S. | $78,010$37.50/hr |
| 29 | Tile and stone setters660 jobs · +40% vs U.S. | $77,920$37.46/hr |
| 30 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists7,410 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $77,900$37.45/hr |
| 31 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers3,210 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $77,610$37.31/hr |
| 32 | Cement masons and concrete finishers4,440 jobs · +36% vs U.S. | $77,520$37.27/hr |
| 33 | Industrial machinery mechanics10,710 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $77,220$37.12/hr |
| 34 | Riggers910 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $77,100$37.07/hr |
| 35 | Millwrights1,020 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $76,490$36.77/hr |
| 36 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers1,510 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $76,070$36.57/hr |
| 37 | Wind turbine service technicians210 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $75,880$36.48/hr |
| 38 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers7,370 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $75,660$36.38/hr |
| 39 | Carpenters26,960 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $74,190$35.67/hr |
| 40 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers2,670 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $73,130$35.16/hr |
| 41 | Security and fire alarm systems installers1,670 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $72,950$35.07/hr |
| 42 | Medical equipment repairers1,410 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $71,190$34.23/hr |
| 43 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers350 jobs · +34% vs U.S. | $70,720$34.00/hr |
| 44 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers200 jobs · +39% vs U.S. | $69,380$33.36/hr |
| 45 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall2,330 jobs · +38% vs U.S. | $67,750$32.57/hr |
| 46 | Glaziers1,460 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $66,860$32.14/hr |
| 47 | Highway maintenance workers2,590 jobs · +30% vs U.S. | $65,300$31.39/hr |
| 48 | Rail car repairers180 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $63,410$30.49/hr |
| 49 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners1,600 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $63,090$30.33/hr |
| 50 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other3,550 jobs · +28% vs U.S. | $63,080$30.33/hr |
| 51 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians750 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $63,020$30.30/hr |
| 52 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers7,720 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $63,020$30.30/hr |
| 53 | Maintenance workers, machinery700 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $62,970$30.27/hr |
| 54 | Solar photovoltaic installers+16% vs U.S. | $61,630$29.63/hr |
| 55 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians1,120 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $61,370$29.51/hr |
| 56 | Roofers5,890 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $60,640$29.16/hr |
| 57 | Automotive glass installers and repairers770 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $60,630$29.15/hr |
| 58 | Hazardous materials removal workers3,250 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $60,160$28.92/hr |
| 59 | Mechanical door repairers550 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $59,930$28.81/hr |
| 60 | Painters, construction and maintenance9,510 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $59,650$28.68/hr |
| 61 | Maintenance and repair workers, general32,450 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $59,160$28.44/hr |
| 62 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles120 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $59,010$28.37/hr |
| 63 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers580 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $58,750$28.24/hr |
| 64 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators500 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $58,740$28.24/hr |
| 65 | Automotive body and related repairers2,330 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $58,340$28.05/hr |
| 66 | Home appliance repairers800 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $58,110$27.94/hr |
| 67 | Locksmiths and safe repairers380 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $58,010$27.89/hr |
| 68 | Construction laborers25,060 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $57,720$27.75/hr |
| 69 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics12,930 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $57,270$27.54/hr |
| 70 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers30 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $56,870$27.34/hr |
| 71 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles370 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $56,800$27.31/hr |
| 72 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers+23% vs U.S. | $56,690$27.26/hr |
| 73 | Floor sanders and finishers90 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $55,620$26.74/hr |
| 74 | Carpet installers470 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $54,830$26.36/hr |
| 75 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics590 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $53,990$25.96/hr |
| 76 | Recreational vehicle service technicians500 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $52,280$25.14/hr |
| 77 | Motorcycle mechanics300 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $51,970$24.99/hr |
| 78 | Fence erectors1,450 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $51,860$24.93/hr |
| 79 | Plasterers and stucco masons440 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $51,840$24.92/hr |
| 80 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers2,010 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $49,050$23.58/hr |
| 81 | Bicycle repairers430 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $48,220$23.18/hr |
| 82 | Paperhangers−11% vs U.S. | $46,270$22.24/hr |
| 83 | Tire repairers and changers2,960 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $44,670$21.48/hr |
| 84 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners150 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $43,330$20.83/hr |
Linked trades have full Washington 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 Washington, 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 Washington median for 4 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 Washington?
- Commercial divers, with a median of $161,800 a year ($77.79 an hour) in Washington, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Washington?
- 10 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Washington: commercial divers ($161,800), elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($137,180), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($133,060), electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($125,620), electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment ($122,140), signal and track switch repairers ($121,710), pile driver operators ($111,080), reinforcing iron and rebar workers ($108,970), structural iron and steel workers ($107,660), control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door ($102,870).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Washington?
- 52 of the 84 trades ranked here have a median above $62,990, the median for all occupations in Washington.
- Do trades pay more in Washington than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 79 of the 84 trades have a higher median in Washington than nationally. The biggest gap is commercial divers: $161,800, 122% above the U.S. median of $72,990.
- Which trade employs the most people in Washington?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 32,450 jobs and a median of $59,160 a year.