Free Skilled Trades Salary Calculator — Built on BLS May 2025 OEWS Data
What you’ll earn in the trades depends on three things: which trade you’re in, where in the US you work, and how far along you are in your career. The national median figures you see quoted everywhere tell part of the story — but a Year 1 electrician apprentice in Arkansas and a Year 15 master electrician in New York are living in completely different realities.
This tool gives you a specific estimate based on your actual situation. Select your trade, state, and experience level to see a salary estimate derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, May 2025 — the most current federal wage data available, released May 15, 2026. Estimates are broken down by career stage from first-year apprentice through top specialist.
Skilled trades salary estimator — select trade, state, and experience level
Skilled trades salary estimator
Select a trade, state, and experience level to get a wage estimate — BLS OEWS data, May 2025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (released May 15, 2026). National medians from BLS OEWS national data (bls.gov/oes); state figures scaled proportionally from BLS state-level OES estimates. Experience-level wages derived from BLS 10th–90th percentile ranges.
How this salary tool works
The estimates are built on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2025 — the primary federal source for US wage data, released May 15, 2026, and covering 1.1 million employer records across all 50 states.
For each trade, the tool uses BLS state-level median wages as the base figure, then applies experience-level multipliers derived from BLS 10th-to-90th percentile data. A Year 1 apprentice typically earns in the 55–65% range of the journeyman median for that state. A top specialist in a high-demand niche — industrial electrical, union pipefitting, commercial HVAC — typically falls in the 145–175% range.
These are estimates, not guarantees. Union membership, overtime, shift differentials, and employer size all affect real-world pay. The tool gives you a realistic starting point for research and salary negotiation.
If you want to choose a high-paying trade job, explore the highest-paying skilled trade jobs in the US in 2026.
What affects your salary in the trades
The four biggest variables — beyond trade and state — are worth understanding before you use these numbers in a negotiation or career decision.
Union vs. non-union is the single largest swing factor. IBEW-represented electricians typically earn 15–25% above the BLS median for their area. UA plumbers and pipefitters see similar premiums. If you’re considering a union apprenticeship, the wage difference compounds significantly over a 20-year career — not just in base pay but in pension, health benefits, and overtime rates.
Specialization separates journeymen who plateau from those who keep climbing. Industrial electricians working in data centers, manufacturing plants, or solar farms command rates well above residential electricians at the same experience level. Commercial HVAC technicians working on building automation systems earn more than residential install techs. The pattern holds across every trade.
Overtime and prevailing wage work can add $10,000–$30,000 per year on top of base salary for active tradespeople. Federal and state government projects pay Davis-Bacon prevailing wages, which often exceed the BLS median figures for that area.
State cost of living vs. nominal wage is worth factoring in. New York pays electricians a mean wage that significantly exceeds the national median — but cost of living in New York City makes that stretch differently than the same dollar amount would in Oregon or Minnesota. If you’re weighing a move, look at real purchasing power, not just the headline number. If you’re weighing a move, look at real purchasing power, not just the headline number.
Salary ranges by trade — quick reference
| Trade | National Median | Entry (Year 1) | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $71,490 | ~$44,000 | $106,000+ |
| Plumber / Pipefitter | $72,170 | ~$44,000 | $114,000+ |
| HVAC Technician | $64,780 | ~$38,000 | $98,000+ |
| Welder | $56,760 | ~$36,000 | $84,000+ |
| Carpenter | $65,630 | ~$38,000 | $107,000+ |
| Elevator Installer | $109,820 | ~$58,000 | $154,000+ |
| Solar PV Installer | $57,900 | ~$36,000 | $89,000+ |
| Wind Turbine Tech | $68,980 | ~$46,000 | $98,000+ |
| Millwright | $69,780 | ~$47,000 | $99,000+ |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (released May 15, 2026). Entry estimates derived from BLS 10th percentile data. Millwright added to reflect full tool coverage.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate are these salary estimates?
The base figures come directly from BLS state-level OEWS data for May 2025, which surveys 1.1 million employers annually. Experience-level adjustments are derived from BLS percentile data rather than self-reported surveys, making them more reliable than crowdsourced salary tools. That said, your actual wage will depend on your specific employer, union status, and local market conditions.
Why does my state pay more or less than the national median?
State wage differences reflect cost of living, local demand, unionization rates, and industry concentration. Alaska and the Northeast consistently pay above the national median for most trades due to high living costs and strong union density. Southern states generally pay below the median — but cost of living is also lower in most of those markets.
What BLS data does this tool use?
This tool is built on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — the most current federal wage survey available, released May 15, 2026. The BLS releases new OEWS data each May. This tool and all salary figures on this site will be updated within two weeks of each new release.
Does this include union wages?
BLS median figures include both union and non-union workers in each occupation. Union workers typically earn above the median; non-union workers cluster closer to or below it. The tool’s “Top specialist” experience level approximates what a senior union journeyman or industrial specialist would earn in that state.
Which trade pays the most in the US?
Elevator installer and repairer is the highest-paying skilled trade by national median annual wage, at $109,820 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The top 10% of elevator mechanics earn more than $154,000. Entry requires a 4–5 year apprenticeship through the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC).
How much does a trade worker earn in their first year?
First-year apprentices in most trades earn 40–50% of the journeyman rate for their area. Nationally, that translates to roughly $36,000–$46,000/year depending on the trade, with union apprenticeships at the higher end of that range. Wages step up every 6 months through the apprenticeship period, typically reaching full journeyman rate after 4–5 years.