Highest-paying trades in Wisconsin
Updated September 27, 2026
Reinforcing iron and rebar workers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Wisconsin, with a median of $121,620 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 60 of the 78 trades ranked here pay more than the $50,270 median for all jobs in Wisconsin.
All 78 trades by median pay in Wisconsin
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers50 jobs · +106% vs U.S. | $121,620$58.47/hr |
| 2 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay150 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $108,980$52.39/hr |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers2,520 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $105,820$50.88/hr |
| 4 | Boilermakers170 jobs · +28% vs U.S. | $97,590$46.92/hr |
| 5 | Structural iron and steel workers710 jobs · +48% vs U.S. | $92,820$44.63/hr |
| 6 | Pipelayers350 jobs · +77% vs U.S. | $86,870$41.77/hr |
| 7 | Signal and track switch repairers60 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $85,440$41.08/hr |
| 8 | Insulation workers, mechanical600 jobs · +46% vs U.S. | $85,120$40.92/hr |
| 9 | Stonemasons70 jobs · +44% vs U.S. | $82,740$39.78/hr |
| 10 | Millwrights1,220 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $82,630$39.73/hr |
| 11 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters10,210 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $81,210$39.04/hr |
| 12 | Brickmasons and blockmasons1,050 jobs · +29% vs U.S. | $80,120$38.52/hr |
| 13 | Sheet metal workers3,180 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $77,760$37.38/hr |
| 14 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers370 jobs · −29% vs U.S. | $77,640$37.33/hr |
| 15 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door980 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $76,540$36.80/hr |
| 16 | Electricians14,310 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $76,540$36.80/hr |
| 17 | Construction and building inspectors1,270 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $75,610$36.35/hr |
| 18 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers260 jobs · +34% vs U.S. | $75,550$36.32/hr |
| 19 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators8,140 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $75,280$36.19/hr |
| 20 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment850 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $74,980$36.05/hr |
| 21 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians1,270 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $73,930$35.54/hr |
| 22 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators960 jobs · +29% vs U.S. | $69,020$33.18/hr |
| 23 | Industrial machinery mechanics13,870 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $66,620$32.03/hr |
| 24 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines2,090 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $65,450$31.46/hr |
| 25 | Avionics technicians130 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $65,230$31.36/hr |
| 26 | Maintenance workers, machinery420 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $64,310$30.92/hr |
| 27 | Cement masons and concrete finishers4,490 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $64,250$30.89/hr |
| 28 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers950 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $63,560$30.56/hr |
| 29 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers190 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $63,320$30.44/hr |
| 30 | Tile and stone setters410 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $62,680$30.14/hr |
| 31 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists6,750 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $62,450$30.02/hr |
| 32 | Glaziers580 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $62,400$30.00/hr |
| 33 | Medical equipment repairers1,490 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $62,220$29.91/hr |
| 34 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers6,630 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $61,710$29.67/hr |
| 35 | Carpenters13,880 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $61,660$29.65/hr |
| 36 | Security and fire alarm systems installers770 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $61,130$29.39/hr |
| 37 | Carpet installers420 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $60,830$29.25/hr |
| 38 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers2,120 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $60,770$29.22/hr |
| 39 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers1,140 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $59,970$28.83/hr |
| 40 | Roofers2,400 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $59,370$28.54/hr |
| 41 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians1,560 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $58,870$28.31/hr |
| 42 | Rail car repairers220 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $58,870$28.30/hr |
| 43 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers15,320 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $58,410$28.08/hr |
| 44 | Recreational vehicle service technicians330 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $58,390$28.07/hr |
| 45 | Highway maintenance workers6,000 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $58,000$27.88/hr |
| 46 | Terrazzo workers and finishers−24% vs U.S. | $57,930$27.85/hr |
| 47 | Tapers70 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $57,840$27.81/hr |
| 48 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers−9% vs U.S. | $57,740$27.76/hr |
| 49 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners1,050 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $57,340$27.57/hr |
| 50 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians690 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $56,920$27.37/hr |
| 51 | Automotive body and related repairers2,690 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $56,660$27.24/hr |
| 52 | Construction laborers20,330 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $56,100$26.97/hr |
| 53 | Maintenance and repair workers, general30,880 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $55,810$26.83/hr |
| 54 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics12,270 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $54,350$26.13/hr |
| 55 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles700 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $52,860$25.42/hr |
| 56 | Home appliance repairers520 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $52,440$25.21/hr |
| 57 | Paperhangers−1% vs U.S. | $51,500$24.76/hr |
| 58 | Fence erectors200 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $51,410$24.72/hr |
| 59 | Plasterers and stucco masons40 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $50,700$24.37/hr |
| 60 | Mechanical door repairers390 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $50,390$24.23/hr |
| 61 | Painters, construction and maintenance3,350 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $50,090$24.08/hr |
| 62 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers630 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $50,050$24.06/hr |
| 63 | Solar photovoltaic installers90 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $49,770$23.93/hr |
| 64 | Riggers170 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $49,640$23.86/hr |
| 65 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall650 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $49,520$23.81/hr |
| 66 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other2,360 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $49,100$23.61/hr |
| 67 | Automotive glass installers and repairers300 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $48,790$23.46/hr |
| 68 | Locksmiths and safe repairers130 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $48,360$23.25/hr |
| 69 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers150 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $48,300$23.22/hr |
| 70 | Motorcycle mechanics550 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $48,190$23.17/hr |
| 71 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics1,020 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $48,140$23.14/hr |
| 72 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators180 jobs · −32% vs U.S. | $47,920$23.04/hr |
| 73 | Hazardous materials removal workers590 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $47,750$22.96/hr |
| 74 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers1,010 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $47,690$22.93/hr |
| 75 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners180 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $46,540$22.37/hr |
| 76 | Bicycle repairers240 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $43,710$21.02/hr |
| 77 | Tire repairers and changers1,350 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $39,560$19.02/hr |
| 78 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles−21% vs U.S. | $38,070$18.30/hr |
Linked trades have full Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin median for 10 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 Wisconsin?
- Reinforcing iron and rebar workers, with a median of $121,620 a year ($58.47 an hour) in Wisconsin, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Wisconsin?
- 3 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Wisconsin: reinforcing iron and rebar workers ($121,620), electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($108,980), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($105,820).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Wisconsin?
- 60 of the 78 trades ranked here have a median above $50,270, the median for all occupations in Wisconsin.
- Do trades pay more in Wisconsin than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 51 of the 78 trades have a higher median in Wisconsin than nationally. The biggest gap is reinforcing iron and rebar workers: $121,620, 106% above the U.S. median of $58,970.
- Which trade employs the most people in Wisconsin?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 30,880 jobs and a median of $55,810 a year.