Highest-Paying Trades in Pennsylvania 2026

50 skilled trades tracked in Pennsylvania metro areas. The top-paying trade is Construction Manager at $113,756 median salary. Data from BLS OEWS (2025).

#	Trade	Median Salary	Cities	Avg Score
1	Construction Manager	$113,756	2	83
2	Elevator Mechanic	$102,396	2	89
3	Electrical Power-Line Tech	$90,396	2	89
4	Power Line Installer	$89,002	2	89
5	Aircraft Mechanic	$80,608	2	71
6	Underwater Welder	$80,221	2	66
7	Pile Driver Operator	$75,114	2	64
8	Pipefitter	$73,857	2	73
9	Building Inspector	$73,598	2	63
10	Crane Operator	$71,629	2	73
11	Boilermaker	$71,619	2	58
12	Steamfitter	$71,145	2	67
13	Industrial Electrician	$70,845	2	75
14	Plumber	$70,292	2	76
15	Electrician	$69,745	2	76
16	Fire Sprinkler Fitter	$68,454	2	73
17	Millwright	$67,859	2	67
18	Industrial Machinery Mechanic	$66,543	2	71
19	Wind Turbine Technician	$66,240	2	92
20	Tool and Die Maker	$65,981	2	51
21	Carpenter	$65,267	2	61
22	Telecommunications Tech	$64,920	2	69
23	Diesel Mechanic	$63,743	2	65
24	HVAC Technician	$63,483	2	79
25	Sheet Metal Worker	$62,885	2	61
26	Ironworker	$61,973	2	64
27	Refrigeration Mechanic	$59,153	2	71
28	Heavy Equipment Operator	$59,010	2	61
29	Structural Welder	$57,870	2	60
30	Drywall Installer	$57,541	2	51
31	Mason (Bricklayer)	$56,753	2	52
32	Well Driller	$55,936	2	51
33	Tile Setter	$54,450	2	51
34	Plasterer	$54,412	2	46
35	Roofer	$54,364	2	53
36	Solar PV Installer	$53,957	2	83
37	Environmental Engineering Tech	$53,288	2	64
38	Machinist	$53,268	2	53
39	Maintenance Mechanic	$53,230	2	56
40	Floor Layer	$52,836	2	49
41	Glazier	$52,473	2	53
42	Concrete Finisher	$51,767	2	53
43	Locksmith	$51,225	2	45
44	Insulation Worker	$50,656	2	56
45	Welder	$50,059	2	56
46	Septic Tank Servicer	$49,577	2	46
47	Auto Mechanic	$49,174	2	46
48	Painter (Construction)	$46,727	2	41
49	CNC Machine Operator	$46,509	2	45
50	Scaffold Builder	$45,901	2	45

Skilled trade wage data for Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania with a median salary of $113,756 across 2 metro areas.

We track 50 skilled trades across metro areas in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania →