Highest Paying Trades in Virginia

The top skilled trades in Virginia, 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)	$77,190	2,830	+8.8%
2	Stationary Engineers & Boiler Operators	$64,970	340	+8.2%
3	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$62,940	9,500	+5.5%
4	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics	$62,400	4,990	+5.5%
5	Electricians	$61,610	24,300	+5.2%
6	Machinists	$60,920	6,140	+8.3%
7	HVAC Mechanics & Installers	$60,630	13,640	+5.7%
8	Heating, AC & Refrigeration Mechanics	$60,630	13,640	+5.7%
9	Boilermakers	$60,440	200	+5.9%
10	Rotary Drill Operators (Oil & Gas)	$59,750	0	+8.1%
11	Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters	$59,560	13,190	+4.9%
12	Reinforcing Iron & Rebar Workers	$58,750	420	+5.2%
13	Bus & Truck Mechanics	$58,530	7,870	+8.5%
14	Sheet Metal Workers	$58,490	3,870	+5.2%
15	Structural Iron & Steel Workers	$58,170	1,190	+4.5%
16	Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers	$57,350	10,690	+8.2%
17	Insulation Workers	$56,440	950	+5.2%
18	Automotive Service Technicians	$56,320	17,740	+8%
19	Operating Engineers (Heavy Equipment)	$52,240	11,280	+4.1%
20	Drywall Installers	$51,760	1,800	+5%
21	Millwrights	$50,300	850	+5.4%
22	Carpenters	$50,220	18,340	+5.2%
23	Maintenance & Repair Workers	$49,070	33,610	+8.1%
24	Pipelayers	$48,540	1,200	+8.5%
25	Cement Masons & Concrete Finishers	$48,510	4,550	+8.1%
26	Painters (Construction & Maintenance)	$44,670	5,300	+5.5%
27	Helpers — Electricians	$38,780	3,140	+8.4%
28	Helpers — Pipelayers, Plumbers & Pipefitters	$38,750	1,520	+8.5%
29	Helpers — Installation, Maintenance & Repair	$37,840	4,030	+8.5%

Explore Trades in Virginia