Highest Paying Trades in North Carolina

The top skilled trades in North Carolina, ranked by median annual salary. Click any trade to see detailed salary breakdowns and metro-level data.

Rank	Trade	Median Salary	Employment	Growth
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers (Linemen)	$75,630	4,930	+8.8%
2	Millwrights	$62,750	810	+5.4%
3	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics	$62,200	4,810	+5.5%
4	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$60,860	15,650	+5.5%
5	Stationary Engineers & Boiler Operators	$58,280	290	+8.2%
6	Machinists	$55,520	8,310	+8.3%
7	Electricians	$54,070	23,660	+5.2%
8	Bus & Truck Mechanics	$53,190	10,290	+8.5%
9	Sheet Metal Workers	$52,370	2,860	+5.2%
10	HVAC Mechanics & Installers	$51,940	13,750	+5.7%
11	Heating, AC & Refrigeration Mechanics	$51,940	13,750	+5.7%
12	Reinforcing Iron & Rebar Workers	$51,510	200	+5.2%
13	Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters	$50,990	14,300	+4.9%
14	Insulation Workers	$50,740	820	+5.2%
15	Structural Iron & Steel Workers	$50,040	1,540	+4.5%
16	Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers	$49,860	12,020	+8.2%
17	Operating Engineers (Heavy Equipment)	$48,910	15,890	+4.1%
18	Automotive Service Technicians	$48,530	25,260	+8%
19	Drywall Installers	$48,460	1,860	+5%
20	Carpenters	$47,630	13,410	+5.2%
21	Cement Masons & Concrete Finishers	$47,370	4,170	+8.1%
22	Maintenance & Repair Workers	$47,200	46,290	+8.1%
23	Boilermakers	$45,760	160	+5.9%
24	Pipelayers	$45,350	3,120	+8.5%
25	Rotary Drill Operators (Oil & Gas)	$43,950	70	+8.1%
26	Painters (Construction & Maintenance)	$43,890	4,340	+5.5%
27	Helpers — Electricians	$38,270	6,460	+8.4%
28	Helpers — Pipelayers, Plumbers & Pipefitters	$37,680	3,740	+8.5%
29	Helpers — Installation, Maintenance & Repair	$37,660	3,750	+8.5%

Explore Trades in North Carolina