Highest-Paying Trades in Washington 2026

50 skilled trades tracked in Washington metro areas. The top-paying trade is Construction Manager at $141,603 median salary. Data from BLS OEWS (2025).

#	Trade	Median Salary	Cities	Avg Score
1	Construction Manager	$141,603	1	83
2	Elevator Mechanic	$124,851	1	87
3	Electrical Power-Line Tech	$109,652	1	85
4	Power Line Installer	$97,004	1	82
5	Aircraft Mechanic	$92,901	1	66
6	Underwater Welder	$88,402	1	60
7	Steamfitter	$87,619	1	64
8	Pile Driver Operator	$83,489	1	57
9	Fire Sprinkler Fitter	$81,693	1	67
10	Crane Operator	$81,306	1	65
11	Industrial Electrician	$80,341	1	68
12	Millwright	$80,113	1	61
13	Plumber	$79,599	1	69
14	Telecommunications Tech	$78,759	1	64
15	Boilermaker	$77,149	1	49
16	Building Inspector	$76,974	1	53
17	Electrician	$76,661	1	67
18	Industrial Machinery Mechanic	$76,084	1	63
19	Wind Turbine Technician	$75,713	1	84
20	HVAC Technician	$75,078	1	73
21	Sheet Metal Worker	$74,409	1	54
22	Ironworker	$73,744	1	56
23	Pipefitter	$73,553	1	61
24	Tool and Die Maker	$70,553	1	42
25	Structural Welder	$69,920	1	55
26	Mason (Bricklayer)	$69,652	1	47
27	Environmental Engineering Tech	$67,392	1	59
28	Drywall Installer	$67,358	1	44
29	Diesel Mechanic	$67,005	1	54
30	Refrigeration Mechanic	$65,913	1	62
31	Machinist	$65,465	1	49
32	Carpenter	$64,817	1	49
33	Plasterer	$63,882	1	38
34	Heavy Equipment Operator	$62,914	1	51
35	Roofer	$62,078	1	46
36	Concrete Finisher	$59,993	1	46
37	Solar PV Installer	$59,766	1	74
38	Insulation Worker	$59,572	1	49
39	Floor Layer	$59,290	1	41
40	Maintenance Mechanic	$59,204	1	48
41	Welder	$58,722	1	49
42	Locksmith	$58,576	1	37
43	Well Driller	$56,635	1	41
44	Tile Setter	$56,067	1	41
45	Glazier	$56,012	1	45
46	CNC Machine Operator	$55,904	1	41
47	Auto Mechanic	$54,000	1	38
48	Painter (Construction)	$53,510	1	35
49	Septic Tank Servicer	$53,432	1	38
50	Scaffold Builder	$51,432	1	39

Skilled trade wage data for Washington 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 Washington with a median salary of $141,603 across 1 metro areas.

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