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Ranked: The Best Places to Be a Trade Worker in America

Herbert Post
Construction worker wearing a hard hat and safety vest at a job site, featured in a report titled “Ranked: The Best Places To Be a Trade Worker in America.

Skilled trades remain the backbone of America’s infrastructure, powering construction sites, manufacturing plants, and energy facilities across the country. But not every state offers the same opportunities for electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and construction laborers.

To better understand where trade professionals can find the strongest wages, job availability, and hiring demand, TRADESAFE analyzed labor data across all 50 states and dozens of metro areas. The results reveal where trade workers are thriving and where emerging shortages could create new opportunities.

Key Takeaways

  • California ranks first overall, leading in both trade employment (238,270 jobs) and offering a median wage of $67,690 across all four trades.
  • Texas (263,820) and California (238,270) are the undisputed trade employment giants, together accounting for nearly 502,000 jobs.
  • Vermont (4.34%), New Hampshire (3.74%), and Maine (3.58%) post the highest hiring velocity nationally.
  • The highest-paying metros for trade workers are Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL ($85,310), San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($85,260), and Kennewick-Richland, WA ($83,540), all averaging above $80,000 across all four trades.
  • Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians in the top-paying markets earn well above the national average, with the highest-paid reaching six figures.

The Trade Prosperity Index

Understanding where trade workers can build long-term careers requires looking beyond wages alone. Market size, hiring demand, and workforce saturation all play a role in shaping opportunities across the country.

California ranked first overall, combining strong earnings with a large employment base. The state supported 238,270 workers across electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and construction laborers while offering a median wage of $67,690 across the four trades. That combination of pay and market size helped push California to the top of the national rankings.

Texas and California stood out as the clear employment leaders. Texas employed 263,820 trade workers, while California followed closely with 238,270. Together, these two states accounted for nearly 502,000 jobs across the four occupations — far more than any other states in the country.

Florida placed third with 188,770 workers, followed by New York with 135,610 and Pennsylvania with 91,130. Rounding out the top ten were North Carolina (90,240), Ohio (86,030), Illinois (82,080), Virginia (77,990), and Michigan (77,790), highlighting the strong concentration of trade jobs across large population centers and construction-heavy regions.

At the other end of the spectrum, the smallest trade workforces were concentrated in smaller states. Vermont employed 4,980 workers across the four trades, followed by Alaska (6,590), South Dakota (7,410), Rhode Island (7,490), and Wyoming (7,720). Delaware (8,340), Montana (10,410), North Dakota (10,500), Hawaii (10,910), and Maine (11,090) rounded out the bottom ten for total employment.

Hiring demand told a different story. Vermont (4.34%), New Hampshire (3.74%), and Maine (3.58%) recorded the highest hiring velocity in the country, meaning employers in those states were posting jobs at a much faster rate relative to the size of their existing workforce.

By contrast, large states like Texas and California generated the most job postings in raw numbers but had much lower hiring velocity. Texas posted 1,853 jobs in March 2026 with a hiring velocity of 0.70%, while California posted 1,166 jobs with a hiring velocity of 0.49%. Their massive workforces allow them to absorb demand quickly, while smaller states may experience sharper shortages when new projects begin.

Here is the complete list of the most active hiring states based on Indeed job postings:

  1. Texas. 1,853 postings (hiring velocity: 0.70%).
  2. Florida. 1,606 postings (hiring velocity: 0.85%).
  3. Pennsylvania. 1,428 postings (hiring velocity: 1.57%).
  4. New York. 1,282 postings (hiring velocity: 0.95%).
  5. Ohio. 1,203 postings (hiring velocity: 1.40%).
  6. California. 1,166 postings (hiring velocity: 0.49%).
  7. Virginia. 1,126 postings (hiring velocity: 1.44%).
  8. North Carolina. 1,069 postings (hiring velocity: 1.18%).
  9. Wisconsin. 1,023 postings (hiring velocity: 2.18%).
  10. Indiana. 990 postings (hiring velocity: 1.56%).

The following states showed the lowest hiring activity according to Indeed job postings:

50. Wyoming. 123 postings (hiring velocity: 1.59%).
49. Alaska. 166 postings (hiring velocity: 2.52%).
48. Rhode Island. 185 postings (hiring velocity: 2.47%).
47. Delaware. 186 postings (hiring velocity: 2.23%).
46. Hawaii. 212 postings (hiring velocity: 1.94%).
45. Vermont. 216 postings (hiring velocity: 4.34%).
44. South Dakota. 262 postings (hiring velocity: 3.54%).
43. Montana. 263 postings (hiring velocity: 2.53%).
42. North Dakota. 282 postings (hiring velocity: 2.69%).
41. New Mexico. 330 postings (hiring velocity: 1.62%).

Trade Specialty Deep Dive

While statewide trends reveal where jobs are concentrated, metro-level data shows where skilled trades are earning the highest paychecks.

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois emerged as the highest-paying metro area for trade workers, with a combined median wage of $85,310 across the four occupations. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California followed closely at $85,260, while Kennewick-Richland, Washington ranked third with $83,540.

Several other metro areas also crossed the $80,000 mark. Here’s a list of the top highest-paying metro areas for trade workers across the four occupations:

  1. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL ($85,310)
  2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($85,260)
  3. Kennewick-Richland, WA ($83,540)
  4. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN ($82,138)
  5. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($80,988)
  6. Fairbanks-College, AK ($80,730)
  7. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR ($80,135)
  8. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($79,590)
  9. Anchorage, AK ($79,575)
  10. Longview-Kelso, WA ($78,318)
  11. Springfield, MA ($77,128)
  12. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA ($76,958)
  13. Rochester, MN ($76,780)
  14. Duluth, MN ($76,225)
  15. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($76,088)
  16. Champaign-Urbana, IL ($75,962)
  17. Trenton-Princeton, NJ ($75,680)
  18. Peoria, IL ($74,730)
  19. Urban Honolulu, HI ($74,608)
  20. Springfield, IL ($74,598)

To better understand where each specialty earns the most, the following lists rank the 15 metro areas with the highest median annual wages for electricians, plumbers and pipefitters, HVAC technicians, and construction laborers.

Here are the areas that had the highest annual wages for electricians:

  1. Kennewick-Richland, WA ($108,740)
  2. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($103,270)
  3. Decatur, IL ($102,960)
  4. Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA ($102,160)
  5. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR ($102,070)
  6. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,600)
  7. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL ($99,540)
  8. Corvallis, OR ($97,320)
  9. Albany, OR ($95,710)
  10. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN ($95,090)
  11. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,020)
  12. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($93,750)
  13. Fairbanks-College, AK ($93,710)
  14. Champaign-Urbana, IL ($91,390)
  15. Kokomo, IN ($89,000)

Below are the metro areas who had the highest median annual wages for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters:

  1. Kennewick-Richland, WA ($100,980)
  2. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR ($100,110)
  3. Madison, WI ($99,450)
  4. Rochester, MN ($99,400)
  5. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL ($98,890)
  6. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN ($97,020)
  7. Springfield, MA ($92,750)
  8. Champaign-Urbana, IL ($92,470)
  9. Longview-Kelso, WA ($91,600)
  10. Eugene-Springfield, OR ($90,960)
  11. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($90,220)
  12. Kokomo, IN ($89,180)
  13. Terre Haute, IN ($88,070)
  14. Springfield, IL ($88,070)
  15. Kenosha, WI ($87,440)

The following metro areas reported the highest median annual wages for HVAC technicians:

  1. Anchorage, AK ($96,610)
  2. Fairbanks-College, AK ($84,230)
  3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,980)
  4. Longview-Kelso, WA ($80,890)
  5. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($80,240)
  6. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA ($77,600)
  7. Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT ($76,890)
  8. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($76,760)
  9. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN ($76,090)
  10. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($75,500)
  11. Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT ($75,150)
  12. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($74,890)
  13. Springfield, MA ($74,630)
  14. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL ($74,400)
  15. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY ($74,090)

Here are the metropolitan areas where construction laborers earned the highest median annual wages:

  1. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($76,150)
  2. Trenton-Princeton, NJ ($72,800)
  3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($71,820)
  4. Urban Honolulu, HI ($70,450)
  5. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL ($68,410)
  6. Vineland, NJ ($65,180)
  7. Kahului-Wailuku, HI ($64,310)
  8. St. Louis, MO ($63,600)
  9. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA ($63,530)
  10. Peoria, IL ($63,460)
  11. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA ($63,140)
  12. Springfield, IL ($62,520)
  13. Bloomington, IL ($61,950)
  14. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY ($61,870)
  15. Fairbanks-College, AK ($61,740)

Across these markets, electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians frequently earned well above national averages, with the highest-paid specialists reaching six-figure salaries in several metro areas.

Where Trade Workers May Find the Strongest Opportunities

The data showed that trade workers can find opportunities in very different kinds of markets. Large states like Texas, California, and Florida offer massive employment bases and steady job pipelines, while smaller states often show stronger hiring pressure as employers compete for limited talent.

Metro-level data revealed another key pattern: specialized trades in high-demand regions can command exceptional wages. In several markets, electricians and plumbers crossed the six-figure threshold, demonstrating the long-term earning potential of skilled technical careers.

As infrastructure projects expand and skilled labor shortages continue to grow, the demand for experienced trade professionals is likely to remain strong. For workers entering or advancing in the trades, location may be one of the most important factors shaping career opportunities in the years ahead.

Methodology

This study was made on behalf of TRADESAFE to explore the best states and metro areas for skilled trade professionals across key specialties.

It ranked all 50 U.S. states across three weighted indicators that captured earning potential, market size, and active hiring demand across four skilled trade occupations: electricians, plumbers/pipefitters/steamfitters, HVAC technicians, and construction laborers:

  • Median annual wage (40%). Sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. The median annual wage for each of the four occupations was extracted at the state level and averaged to produce a single combined wage figure per state (SOC codes: 47-2061, 47-2111, 47-2152, 49-9021).
  • Total employment (35%). Also sourced from BLS OEWS May 2024, this measures the total number of workers employed across all four trade occupations at the state level, combined into a single employment figure reflecting overall market size and job availability.
  • Hiring velocity (25%). Derived from real-time job posting data collected via Indeed (March 2026), this indicator measures active employer demand relative to the existing workforce. Calculated as total job postings across all four trades divided by total BLS employment, expressed as a percentage. This distinguished states where demand is outpacing supply from those with more saturated labor markets.

All three indicators were scaled using min-max normalization to a 0–100 range before being combined into a final composite score, with weights applied as noted above.

About TRADESAFE

TRADESAFE provides industry-leading safety solutions - including Lockout Tagout devices, safety showers, eye wash stations, spill containment solutions, and workplace safety signs - precision-engineered for durability, compliance, and seamless integration into industrial environments. Designed to exceed OSHA, ANSI, and EPA standards, our solutions are relied upon by the nation’s top companies, municipalities, and government agencies.

Fair Use Statement

This article contains original research conducted on behalf of TRADESAFE. The information may be shared for noncommercial purposes, provided that proper attribution and a link back to the original source on TRADESAFE are included.

The material provided in this article is for general information purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional/legal advice or substitute government regulations, industry standards, or other requirements specific to any business/activity. While we made sure to provide accurate and reliable information, we make no representation that the details or sources are up-to-date, complete or remain available. Readers should consult with an industrial safety expert, qualified professional, or attorney for any specific concerns and questions.

Herbert Post

Born in the Philadelphia area and raised in Houston by a family who was predominately employed in heavy manufacturing. Herb took a liking to factory processes and later safety compliance where he has spent the last 13 years facilitating best practices and teaching updated regulations. He is married with two children and a St Bernard named Jose. Herb is a self-described compliance geek. When he isn’t studying safety reports and regulatory interpretations he enjoys racquetball and watching his favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys.

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