Highest-Paying Trades in Minnesota 2026

50 skilled trades tracked in Minnesota metro areas. The top-paying trade is Construction Manager at $124,593 median salary. Data from BLS OEWS (2025).

#	Trade	Median Salary	Cities	Avg Score
1	Construction Manager	$124,593	1	83
2	Elevator Mechanic	$104,268	1	89
3	Power Line Installer	$88,613	1	88
4	Underwater Welder	$87,534	1	68
5	Electrical Power-Line Tech	$86,057	1	87
6	Aircraft Mechanic	$81,379	1	71
7	Pile Driver Operator	$79,045	1	64
8	Boilermaker	$76,459	1	59
9	Pipefitter	$72,416	1	72
10	Millwright	$69,835	1	67
11	Building Inspector	$69,316	1	61
12	Crane Operator	$69,281	1	71
13	Fire Sprinkler Fitter	$69,278	1	73
14	Steamfitter	$68,874	1	66
15	Electrician	$68,870	1	75
16	Wind Turbine Technician	$68,498	1	92
17	Tool and Die Maker	$67,826	1	51
18	Ironworker	$66,649	1	65
19	Plumber	$66,391	1	74
20	HVAC Technician	$66,145	1	80
21	Industrial Electrician	$65,748	1	73
22	Telecommunications Tech	$64,931	1	68
23	Carpenter	$63,338	1	59
24	Industrial Machinery Mechanic	$63,205	1	69
25	Sheet Metal Worker	$62,763	1	60
26	Heavy Equipment Operator	$62,639	1	63
27	Refrigeration Mechanic	$61,872	1	70
28	Diesel Mechanic	$61,255	1	62
29	Drywall Installer	$60,087	1	52
30	Mason (Bricklayer)	$60,044	1	53
31	Structural Welder	$58,460	1	59
32	Well Driller	$57,056	1	51
33	Tile Setter	$56,935	1	51
34	Floor Layer	$55,553	1	49
35	Auto Mechanic	$55,550	1	48
36	Maintenance Mechanic	$55,397	1	56
37	Environmental Engineering Tech	$55,206	1	63
38	Concrete Finisher	$55,136	1	54
39	Welder	$54,215	1	57
40	Glazier	$53,390	1	53
41	Solar PV Installer	$53,197	1	82
42	Machinist	$52,117	1	51
43	Insulation Worker	$51,767	1	55
44	Plasterer	$51,177	1	42
45	CNC Machine Operator	$49,482	1	47
46	Locksmith	$49,041	1	41
47	Septic Tank Servicer	$48,567	1	44
48	Roofer	$48,221	1	48
49	Painter (Construction)	$47,335	1	41
50	Scaffold Builder	$43,973	1	43

Skilled trade wage data for Minnesota is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.
— BLS OEWS (2025)

Frequently Asked Questions

Construction Manager is the highest-paying skilled trade in Minnesota with a median salary of $124,593 across 1 metro areas.

We track 50 skilled trades across metro areas in Minnesota using Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.

The Trade Pay Score (0-100, A-F) rates each trade-city combination on median wage vs. household income (30%), 5-year wage growth (25%), job demand (25%), and cost-of-living adjusted pay (20%).

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS

Trades ranked by median salary across metro areas in the state. Trade Pay Score: wage vs. household income (30%), 5-year growth (25%), job demand (25%), COL-adjusted pay (20%).

Best-Paying Trades Nationwide →All Trade Data for Minnesota →