Highest-Paying Trades in New York 2026

50 skilled trades tracked in New York metro areas. The top-paying trade is Construction Manager at $138,742 median salary. Data from BLS OEWS (2025).

#	Trade	Median Salary	Cities	Avg Score
1	Construction Manager	$138,742	1	78
2	Elevator Mechanic	$120,570	1	80
3	Power Line Installer	$112,855	1	80
4	Electrical Power-Line Tech	$101,842	1	76
5	Aircraft Mechanic	$98,834	1	61
6	Underwater Welder	$94,611	1	54
7	Steamfitter	$90,757	1	56
8	Boilermaker	$90,363	1	47
9	Building Inspector	$87,341	1	51
10	Crane Operator	$86,258	1	59
11	Industrial Electrician	$85,074	1	62
12	Pile Driver Operator	$85,010	1	49
13	Industrial Machinery Mechanic	$83,686	1	59
14	Pipefitter	$83,369	1	59
15	Wind Turbine Technician	$82,594	1	80
16	Fire Sprinkler Fitter	$82,002	1	61
17	Telecommunications Tech	$81,442	1	58
18	Millwright	$81,176	1	53
19	Tool and Die Maker	$79,551	1	38
20	Carpenter	$79,122	1	47
21	Electrician	$78,080	1	61
22	HVAC Technician	$77,543	1	67
23	Ironworker	$76,788	1	52
24	Plumber	$76,532	1	61
25	Mason (Bricklayer)	$73,787	1	41
26	Refrigeration Mechanic	$73,363	1	58
27	Diesel Mechanic	$72,771	1	50
28	Sheet Metal Worker	$70,408	1	46
29	Drywall Installer	$68,811	1	38
30	Plasterer	$68,547	1	34
31	Glazier	$68,018	1	43
32	Tile Setter	$67,374	1	39
33	Structural Welder	$67,193	1	47
34	Environmental Engineering Tech	$66,742	1	53
35	Welder	$66,632	1	47
36	Heavy Equipment Operator	$66,378	1	47
37	Solar PV Installer	$65,753	1	72
38	Roofer	$64,719	1	42
39	Auto Mechanic	$63,879	1	36
40	Insulation Worker	$62,638	1	45
41	Concrete Finisher	$61,732	1	42
42	Machinist	$61,662	1	41
43	CNC Machine Operator	$60,333	1	37
44	Locksmith	$60,244	1	33
45	Maintenance Mechanic	$59,912	1	44
46	Painter (Construction)	$59,015	1	33
47	Well Driller	$58,988	1	37
48	Scaffold Builder	$57,839	1	35
49	Floor Layer	$57,420	1	35
50	Septic Tank Servicer	$54,807	1	34

Skilled trade wage data for New York 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 New York with a median salary of $138,742 across 1 metro areas.

We track 50 skilled trades across metro areas in New York 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 New York →