Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024
Denver vs Detroit
Skilled-trade workers in Denver earn an average median wage of $67,348 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 $52,616 for Denver.
Nominal Pay vs Real Pay
On nominal pay, Denver and Detroit are remarkably close — $67,348 versus $67,215, a gap of less than $133. For most workers, the choice between the two metros will hinge on cost of living, lifestyle, and family ties rather than the headline salary.
Cost of living diverges meaningfully — Denver at index 128 versus Detroit at 89. Denver is the more expensive metro by 39 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 Detroit.
Once cost of living is factored in, Detroit delivers $22,906 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.
Denver, CO
Detroit, MI
Trade-by-Trade Comparison
| Trade | Denver | Detroit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Manager | $124,850 | $108,560 | +$16,290 |
| Power Line Installer | $99,550 | $106,360 | -$6,810 |
| Electrical Power-Line Tech | $99,550 | $106,360 | -$6,810 |
| Aircraft Mechanic | $82,570 | $74,490 | +$8,080 |
| Millwright | $81,600 | $83,860 | -$2,260 |
| Building Inspector | $79,500 | $72,460 | +$7,040 |
| Crane Operator | $75,830 | $84,470 | -$8,640 |
| Industrial Electrician | $75,680 | $63,430 | +$12,250 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $73,690 | $65,110 | +$8,580 |
| Mason (Bricklayer) | $72,770 | $62,540 | +$10,230 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $71,080 | $60,550 | +$10,530 |
| Telecommunications Tech | $67,820 | $62,870 | +$4,950 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $65,850 | $72,300 | -$6,450 |
| HVAC Technician | $64,990 | $61,140 | +$3,850 |
| Refrigeration Mechanic | $64,990 | $61,140 | +$3,850 |
| Plumber | $64,300 | $81,480 | -$17,180 |
| Pipefitter | $64,300 | $81,480 | -$17,180 |
| Fire Sprinkler Fitter | $64,300 | $81,480 | -$17,180 |
| Steamfitter | $64,300 | $81,480 | -$17,180 |
| Glazier | $63,340 | $59,240 | +$4,100 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $63,290 | $65,210 | -$1,920 |
| Electrician | $63,010 | $80,330 | -$17,320 |
| Carpenter | $61,470 | $65,060 | -$3,590 |
| Concrete Finisher | $61,400 | $62,650 | -$1,250 |
| Drywall Installer | $60,860 | $56,330 | +$4,530 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $60,730 | $61,750 | -$1,020 |
| Environmental Engineering Tech | $60,590 | $48,500 | +$12,090 |
| Tile Setter | $60,580 | $56,210 | +$4,370 |
| Auto Mechanic | $60,240 | $50,700 | +$9,540 |
| Septic Tank Servicer | $59,780 | $50,250 | +$9,530 |
| Machinist | $59,640 | $57,240 | +$2,400 |
| Welder | $58,700 | $50,250 | +$8,450 |
| Structural Welder | $58,700 | $50,250 | +$8,450 |
| Underwater Welder | $58,700 | $50,250 | +$8,450 |
| Roofer | $56,110 | $60,590 | -$4,480 |
| Painter (Construction) | $54,500 | $55,430 | -$930 |
| Maintenance Mechanic | $52,510 | $48,290 | +$4,220 |
| Floor Layer | $51,460 | $51,540 | -$80 |
| Insulation Worker | $48,610 | $47,560 | +$1,050 |
| Locksmith | $47,250 | $60,100 | -$12,850 |
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 Denver 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 Denver or Detroit?
On nominal pay, Denver earns more — $67,348 versus $67,215. After cost of living, Detroit delivers stronger real purchasing power at $75,522 versus $52,616.
What is the cost-of-living difference between Denver and Detroit?
Denver carries a cost-of-living index of 128; Detroit runs at 89. The 39-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?
Denver tracks 45 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 Denver earn an average median wage of $67,348 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 $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.