Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024
Chicago vs Denver
Skilled-trade workers in Chicago earn an average median wage of $77,019 versus $67,348 in Denver, per 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. After adjusting for cost of living, Chicago delivers $71,980 in U.S.-average purchasing power versus $52,616 for Denver.
Nominal Pay vs Real Pay
On nominal pay, Chicago runs ahead — $77,019 versus $67,348, a gap of $9,671. 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 — Chicago at index 107 versus Denver at 128. Denver is the more expensive metro by 21 index points, which means a worker in Denver needs roughly that much more in nominal pay just to match the purchasing power of a worker in Chicago.
Once cost of living is factored in, Chicago delivers $19,364 more in real purchasing power than Denver. 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.
Chicago, IL
Denver, CO
Trade-by-Trade Comparison
| Trade | Chicago | Denver | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator Mechanic | $141,380 | $122,880 | +$18,500 |
| Construction Manager | $118,830 | $124,850 | -$6,020 |
| Power Line Installer | $114,030 | $99,550 | +$14,480 |
| Electrical Power-Line Tech | $114,030 | $99,550 | +$14,480 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $101,200 | $63,290 | +$37,910 |
| Electrician | $99,540 | $63,010 | +$36,530 |
| Plumber | $98,890 | $64,300 | +$34,590 |
| Pipefitter | $98,890 | $64,300 | +$34,590 |
| Fire Sprinkler Fitter | $98,890 | $64,300 | +$34,590 |
| Steamfitter | $98,890 | $64,300 | +$34,590 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $97,970 | $60,730 | +$37,240 |
| Ironworker | $93,190 | $58,710 | +$34,480 |
| Plasterer | $90,020 | $52,010 | +$38,010 |
| Aircraft Mechanic | $89,960 | $82,570 | +$7,390 |
| Mason (Bricklayer) | $86,330 | $72,770 | +$13,560 |
| Millwright | $83,180 | $81,600 | +$1,580 |
| Concrete Finisher | $82,190 | $61,400 | +$20,790 |
| Building Inspector | $78,110 | $79,500 | -$1,390 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $76,960 | $73,690 | +$3,270 |
| Carpenter | $76,510 | $61,470 | +$15,040 |
| HVAC Technician | $74,400 | $64,990 | +$9,410 |
| Refrigeration Mechanic | $74,400 | $64,990 | +$9,410 |
| Drywall Installer | $69,810 | $60,860 | +$8,950 |
| Roofer | $69,570 | $56,110 | +$13,460 |
| Floor Layer | $69,110 | $51,460 | +$17,650 |
| Telecommunications Tech | $67,310 | $67,820 | -$510 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $65,240 | $71,080 | -$5,840 |
| Painter (Construction) | $63,140 | $54,500 | +$8,640 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $61,580 | $65,850 | -$4,270 |
| Industrial Electrician | $60,420 | $75,680 | -$15,260 |
| Glazier | $59,990 | $63,340 | -$3,350 |
| Auto Mechanic | $58,340 | $60,240 | -$1,900 |
| Crane Operator | $57,740 | $75,830 | -$18,090 |
| Machinist | $57,470 | $59,640 | -$2,170 |
| Maintenance Mechanic | $56,940 | $52,510 | +$4,430 |
| Tile Setter | $53,430 | $60,580 | -$7,150 |
| Insulation Worker | $53,350 | $48,610 | +$4,740 |
| Environmental Engineering Tech | $51,830 | $60,590 | -$8,760 |
| Septic Tank Servicer | $51,060 | $59,780 | -$8,720 |
| Welder | $50,700 | $58,700 | -$8,000 |
| Structural Welder | $50,700 | $58,700 | -$8,000 |
| Underwater Welder | $50,700 | $58,700 | -$8,000 |
| Locksmith | $45,600 | $47,250 | -$1,650 |
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 Chicago and Denver 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 Chicago or Denver?
On nominal pay, Chicago earns more — $77,019 versus $67,348. After cost of living, Chicago delivers stronger real purchasing power at $71,980 versus $52,616.
What is the cost-of-living difference between Chicago and Denver?
Chicago carries a cost-of-living index of 107; Denver runs at 128. The 21-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?
Chicago tracks 43 trades with available BLS OEWS data; Denver tracks 45. 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 Chicago earn an average median wage of $77,019 versus $67,348 in Denver, per 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. After adjusting for cost of living, Chicago delivers $71,980 in U.S.-average purchasing power versus $52,616 for Denver.
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.