Free Skilled Trades Salary Calculator for the US, based on the latest BLS Data
Use this calculator to look up BLS wage data for electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, welders, carpenters, and other skilled trades — broken down by state and experience level. Wage figures are drawn from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) survey, which publishes median pay, 10th percentile, 25th percentile, 75th percentile, and 90th percentile wages for each trade nationally and by state.
Select your trade, state, and experience level to see an estimated annual salary and hourly wage. The progression chart below your result shows the full earnings arc from first-year apprentice through master-level and top specialist — so you can see not just what the job pays today, but what the career pays over time.
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 OES data, May 2024 · Updated with corrected BLS OOH figures
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) and Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), May 2024. National medians from BLS OOH (bls.gov/ooh); state figures from BLS state-level OES estimates scaled proportionally. Experience-level wages derived from BLS 10th–90th percentile data. ⚡ Update due May 15, 2026 — BLS releases May 2025 OEWS data at 10 a.m. ET.
How wages vary by state and experience level
Skilled trades wages vary significantly depending on where you work. An electrician in California earns a median of $97,600 per year compared to $54,100 in Arkansas — the same license, a very different paycheck. High-cost states like New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Washington consistently rank among the top-paying states for most trades, largely due to stronger union density and higher regional demand.
Experience level matters just as much as geography. A first-year electrician apprentice typically earns in the $40,000–$48,000 range nationally. By year 10 as a journeyman, that same electrician is likely earning $76,000–$91,000. Master electricians and industrial specialists in high-demand markets can reach $116,000 or more — the 90th percentile wage for the trade according to BLS data.
How to read the BLS wage percentiles
The BLS publishes wage data at five percentile points: 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th. The median is the midpoint — half of all workers in that trade earn above it, half below. The 90th percentile represents the top earners in the trade, typically those with the most experience, specialized certifications, or union scale wages in high-pay markets. This calculator uses the 10th–90th percentile range to estimate earnings at each career stage.
Trades covered in this calculator
This tool covers eight trades: electricians, plumbers and pipefitters, HVAC technicians, welders, carpenters, elevator installers, solar PV installers, and wind turbine technicians. State-level wage data is available for 26 states plus a national estimate. All figures reflect the latest BLS OES release and are updated each year when the BLS publishes new data, typically in April.
If you want to choose a high-paying trade job, explore the highest-paying skilled trade jobs in the US in 2026.
How this salary tool works
The estimates are built on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2024 — the primary federal source for US wage data, 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.
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 median of $98,200 — but cost of living in New York City makes that stretch differently than $84,700 in Oregon or $81,200 in Minnesota. 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 | $62,350 | ~$42,000 | $116,000+ |
| Plumber / Pipefitter | $60,090 | ~$37,000 | $99,000+ |
| HVAC Technician | $57,300 | ~$35,000 | $90,000+ |
| Welder | $47,540 | ~$30,000 | $75,000+ |
| Carpenter | $57,800 | ~$34,000 | $96,000+ |
| Elevator Installer | $97,860 | ~$55,000 | $140,000+ |
| Solar PV Installer | $47,000 | ~$31,000 | $74,000+ |
| Wind Turbine Tech | $61,770 | ~$41,000 | $98,000+ |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. Entry estimates derived from BLS 10th percentile data.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate are these salary estimates?
The base figures come directly from BLS state-level OEWS data, 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.
When is this data updated?
BLS releases new OEWS data annually each spring. The May 2025 data is scheduled for release on May 15, 2026 — we will update this tool and all salary figures on this site within two weeks of that 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.