Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024
Atlanta vs Detroit
Skilled-trade workers in Atlanta earn an average median wage of $59,780 versus $67,215 in Detroit, per 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. After adjusting for cost of living, Detroit delivers $75,522 in U.S.-average purchasing power versus $56,396 for Atlanta.
Nominal Pay vs Real Pay
On nominal pay, Detroit runs ahead — $67,215 versus $59,780, a gap of $7,435. Whether that gap survives a cost-of-living adjustment is the key question, and it usually does not survive in coastal-versus-interior comparisons.
Cost of living diverges meaningfully — Atlanta at index 106 versus Detroit at 89. Atlanta is the more expensive metro by 17 index points, which means a worker in Atlanta needs roughly that much more in nominal pay just to match the purchasing power of a worker in Detroit.
Once cost of living is factored in, Detroit delivers $19,126 more in real purchasing power than Atlanta. That is a substantial gap on a per-year basis and compounds over a career; for a worker comparing offers, it is often the deciding number.
Atlanta, GA
Detroit, MI
Trade-by-Trade Comparison
| Trade | Atlanta | Detroit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Manager | $104,280 | $108,560 | -$4,280 |
| Aircraft Mechanic | $95,920 | $74,490 | +$21,430 |
| Mason (Bricklayer) | $89,140 | $62,540 | +$26,600 |
| Power Line Installer | $82,050 | $106,360 | -$24,310 |
| Electrical Power-Line Tech | $82,050 | $106,360 | -$24,310 |
| Industrial Electrician | $70,190 | $63,430 | +$6,760 |
| Crane Operator | $67,230 | $84,470 | -$17,240 |
| Building Inspector | $65,940 | $72,460 | -$6,520 |
| Environmental Engineering Tech | $65,470 | $48,500 | +$16,970 |
| Boilermaker | $63,280 | $96,510 | -$33,230 |
| Locksmith | $63,120 | $60,100 | +$3,020 |
| Millwright | $62,610 | $83,860 | -$21,250 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $61,850 | $65,110 | -$3,260 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $60,730 | $60,550 | +$180 |
| Electrician | $60,400 | $80,330 | -$19,930 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $59,970 | $72,300 | -$12,330 |
| Plumber | $58,690 | $81,480 | -$22,790 |
| Pipefitter | $58,690 | $81,480 | -$22,790 |
| Fire Sprinkler Fitter | $58,690 | $81,480 | -$22,790 |
| Telecommunications Tech | $58,690 | $62,870 | -$4,180 |
| Steamfitter | $58,690 | $81,480 | -$22,790 |
| HVAC Technician | $56,830 | $61,140 | -$4,310 |
| Refrigeration Mechanic | $56,830 | $61,140 | -$4,310 |
| Drywall Installer | $56,320 | $56,330 | -$10 |
| Machinist | $52,810 | $57,240 | -$4,430 |
| Glazier | $52,050 | $59,240 | -$7,190 |
| Auto Mechanic | $51,980 | $50,700 | +$1,280 |
| Carpenter | $51,390 | $65,060 | -$13,670 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $49,630 | $61,750 | -$12,120 |
| Welder | $49,590 | $50,250 | -$660 |
| Structural Welder | $49,590 | $50,250 | -$660 |
| Underwater Welder | $49,590 | $50,250 | -$660 |
| Roofer | $48,990 | $60,590 | -$11,600 |
| Septic Tank Servicer | $48,880 | $50,250 | -$1,370 |
| Maintenance Mechanic | $48,730 | $48,290 | +$440 |
| Painter (Construction) | $48,640 | $55,430 | -$6,790 |
| Concrete Finisher | $48,590 | $62,650 | -$14,060 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $48,240 | $65,210 | -$16,970 |
| Insulation Worker | $46,830 | $47,560 | -$730 |
| Floor Layer | $44,790 | $51,540 | -$6,750 |
How These Numbers Are Calculated
Every wage figure on this page is a real BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics median, drawn from the 2024 release at bls.gov/oes. The COL-Adjusted column uses each metro's cost-of-living index to translate nominal pay into U.S.-average purchasing power. The Avg Trade Pay Score is the average of the per-trade composites for that metro — a 0-100 grade weighted on raw pay (30%), 5-year wage growth (25%), employment depth (25%), and cost-of-living-adjusted purchasing power (20%). Read the full methodology.
Career outlook data — projected employment growth through 2032 by trade — comes from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook at bls.gov/ooh. Apprenticeship listings for both Atlanta and Detroit are maintained at the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov registry. All three are public-domain federal data sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do trade workers earn more in Atlanta or Detroit?
On nominal pay, Detroit earns more — $67,215 versus $59,780. After cost of living, Detroit delivers stronger real purchasing power at $75,522 versus $56,396.
What is the cost-of-living difference between Atlanta and Detroit?
Atlanta carries a cost-of-living index of 106; Detroit runs at 89. The 17-point difference means a worker needs roughly that much more nominal pay in the higher-cost metro just to match the purchasing power of the lower-cost metro.
Which metro has more skilled-trade jobs tracked?
Atlanta tracks 43 trades with available BLS OEWS data; Detroit tracks 41. Both readings come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program at https://www.bls.gov/oes/, which surveys hundreds of thousands of employers per release.
How are these wages calculated?
Every wage figure is the median (50th percentile) annual salary for that trade in that metro from the 2024 BLS OEWS release. The cost-of-living-adjusted column uses each metro's COL index to convert nominal pay into U.S.-average purchasing power. Read the full BLS OEWS methodology at https://www.bls.gov/oes/ for survey design and percentile computation detail.
Where can I find apprenticeships in either metro?
Registered apprenticeship programs for both metros are listed on the U.S. Department of Labor's site at https://www.apprenticeship.gov/, which lets you filter by city and trade. Most skilled trades require 3-5 years of registered apprenticeship before reaching journeyman pay.
Skilled-trade workers in Atlanta earn an average median wage of $59,780 versus $67,215 in Detroit, per 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. After adjusting for cost of living, Detroit delivers $75,522 in U.S.-average purchasing power versus $56,396 for Atlanta.
Comparing entity A and entity B on U.S. skilled-trade wage data requires lining up the underlying the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey data side by side. The table above runs the comparison on the canonical fields; the narrative below identifies the factor or factors that drive the most meaningful difference between the two.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.