Best Trades by Purchasing Power (2025)
Trade salaries adjusted for cost of living across 30 US metro areas. These rankings show which trades deliver the most real purchasing power — not just the highest nominal pay.
| # | Trade | Raw Median | COL-Adjusted | Difference | Best City | Best Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction Manager | $112,501 | $101,934 | -$10,567 | St. Louis, MO | $122,763 |
| 2 | Elevator Mechanic | $103,991 | $94,371 | -$9,620 | Detroit, MI | $121,656 |
| 3 | Electrical Power-Line Tech | $87,867 | $79,945 | -$7,922 | Houston, TX | $99,201 |
| 4 | Power Line Installer | $87,732 | $79,768 | -$7,964 | Detroit, MI | $96,393 |
| 5 | Underwater Welder | $80,828 | $73,493 | -$7,335 | Detroit, MI | $91,763 |
| 6 | Aircraft Mechanic | $76,453 | $69,318 | -$7,135 | Detroit, MI | $90,018 |
| 7 | Pile Driver Operator | $73,688 | $66,995 | -$6,693 | Detroit, MI | $81,302 |
| 8 | Building Inspector | $70,280 | $63,708 | -$6,572 | St. Louis, MO | $75,079 |
| 9 | Steamfitter | $70,357 | $63,604 | -$6,753 | Detroit, MI | $77,633 |
| 10 | Boilermaker | $67,891 | $61,709 | -$6,182 | Detroit, MI | $78,252 |
| 11 | Fire Sprinkler Fitter | $67,639 | $61,323 | -$6,316 | Detroit, MI | $78,155 |
| 12 | Pipefitter | $67,249 | $61,212 | -$6,037 | St. Louis, MO | $72,811 |
| 13 | Crane Operator | $67,153 | $60,822 | -$6,331 | Detroit, MI | $77,245 |
| 14 | Industrial Electrician | $66,759 | $60,476 | -$6,283 | Pittsburgh, PA | $73,814 |
| 15 | Wind Turbine Technician | $66,008 | $60,086 | -$5,922 | Detroit, MI | $74,587 |
| 16 | Millwright | $65,704 | $59,422 | -$6,282 | Houston, TX | $72,792 |
| 17 | Electrician | $65,308 | $59,360 | -$5,948 | Houston, TX | $73,540 |
| 18 | Telecommunications Tech | $65,077 | $59,048 | -$6,029 | Detroit, MI | $71,103 |
| 19 | Plumber | $64,109 | $58,092 | -$6,017 | Pittsburgh, PA | $71,771 |
| 20 | Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $63,930 | $57,872 | -$6,058 | Detroit, MI | $72,034 |
| 21 | Ironworker | $61,718 | $56,071 | -$5,647 | Detroit, MI | $72,939 |
| 22 | Tool and Die Maker | $61,514 | $55,846 | -$5,668 | St. Louis, MO | $67,352 |
| 23 | HVAC Technician | $61,278 | $55,590 | -$5,688 | Detroit, MI | $67,717 |
| 24 | Carpenter | $60,859 | $55,272 | -$5,587 | Detroit, MI | $68,767 |
| 25 | Sheet Metal Worker | $58,967 | $53,501 | -$5,466 | Houston, TX | $66,846 |
| 26 | Diesel Mechanic | $58,284 | $52,915 | -$5,369 | Houston, TX | $63,733 |
| 27 | Refrigeration Mechanic | $57,855 | $52,456 | -$5,399 | Detroit, MI | $68,943 |
| 28 | Heavy Equipment Operator | $56,984 | $51,875 | -$5,109 | St. Louis, MO | $61,983 |
| 29 | Mason (Bricklayer) | $56,904 | $51,523 | -$5,381 | Detroit, MI | $62,645 |
| 30 | Structural Welder | $55,913 | $50,674 | -$5,239 | Houston, TX | $62,347 |
| 31 | Drywall Installer | $54,480 | $49,353 | -$5,127 | Detroit, MI | $64,492 |
| 32 | Environmental Engineering Tech | $53,466 | $48,478 | -$4,988 | Detroit, MI | $58,266 |
| 33 | Well Driller | $52,055 | $47,475 | -$4,580 | Detroit, MI | $62,063 |
| 34 | Machinist | $52,141 | $47,201 | -$4,940 | Detroit, MI | $58,655 |
| 35 | Tile Setter | $52,089 | $47,185 | -$4,904 | St. Louis, MO | $58,104 |
| 36 | Plasterer | $52,094 | $47,181 | -$4,913 | St. Louis, MO | $57,862 |
| 37 | Glazier | $51,634 | $46,890 | -$4,744 | Houston, TX | $58,742 |
| 38 | Welder | $50,902 | $46,237 | -$4,665 | St. Louis, MO | $56,701 |
| 39 | Concrete Finisher | $50,675 | $45,980 | -$4,695 | Chicago, IL | $54,030 |
| 40 | Auto Mechanic | $50,517 | $45,836 | -$4,681 | Detroit, MI | $57,110 |
| 41 | Maintenance Mechanic | $50,342 | $45,731 | -$4,611 | Detroit, MI | $59,546 |
| 42 | Solar PV Installer | $50,287 | $45,577 | -$4,710 | Pittsburgh, PA | $56,736 |
| 43 | Insulation Worker | $50,148 | $45,438 | -$4,710 | Detroit, MI | $59,546 |
| 44 | Roofer | $50,049 | $45,290 | -$4,759 | Pittsburgh, PA | $54,914 |
| 45 | Floor Layer | $49,886 | $45,256 | -$4,630 | Detroit, MI | $58,555 |
| 46 | Locksmith | $49,571 | $44,946 | -$4,625 | Detroit, MI | $55,769 |
| 47 | Painter (Construction) | $47,431 | $43,052 | -$4,379 | Detroit, MI | $54,564 |
| 48 | Septic Tank Servicer | $47,006 | $42,644 | -$4,362 | Detroit, MI | $54,234 |
| 49 | CNC Machine Operator | $45,680 | $41,323 | -$4,357 | Detroit, MI | $48,773 |
| 50 | Scaffold Builder | $44,652 | $40,545 | -$4,107 | St. Louis, MO | $49,041 |
Why Purchasing Power Matters
A trade that pays $75,000 in San Francisco is not the same as one paying $65,000 in Houston. After rent, groceries, childcare, and transportation, the Houston paycheck often stretches further. This ranking adjusts every trade's salary by the MERIC Cost of Living Index to show what your earnings actually buy.
Trades that rank higher after adjustment tend to have strong demand in lower-cost metros — cities in Texas, the Midwest, and the Southeast where housing costs are below the national average. Trades that drop after adjustment are those concentrated in expensive coastal cities.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cost-of-living (COL) adjusted salary reflects what your paycheck actually buys in a given city. A $60,000 salary in Houston (COL index 90) has the same purchasing power as $100,000 in San Francisco (COL index 150). We adjust all salaries to a national baseline of 100.
After cost-of-living adjustment, Construction Manager has the highest average adjusted salary at $101,934 across all metros.
Trades concentrated in lower-cost metros rise in the rankings after adjustment. A trade paying $55,000 in Indianapolis (COL 88) has more purchasing power than one paying $70,000 in New York (COL 130). Trades with high pay in expensive cities drop when adjusted for what that pay actually buys.
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