Skilled trades and construction jobs: postings, pay, and occupations
How many US job postings are in skilled trades and construction, what they advertise in pay, and the occupations and industries behind them.
- US job postings
- 176,340
- 5.4% of US postings placed in a field
- Median advertised pay
- $67,600
- Middle 50 percent $50,840 to $87,890
- Share that list pay
- 22.2%
- 39,159 of 176,340 postings
- Fully remote
- 1.5%
- 2,579 remote postings open to US workers
Figures as of .
Skilled trades and construction has 176,340 live US job postings as of November 5, 2026, 5.4% of the US postings we could place in a field. That ranks 5th of 24 fields.
Its postings that list pay advertise a median of $67,600 a year, with the middle 50 percent from $50,840 to $87,890.
Its largest occupation is automotive technician, with 18.8% of its postings. The industry with the most of its postings is construction, with 24.1%.
Occupations in skilled trades and construction
Each occupation's share of the US postings in skilled trades and construction, as of November 5, 2026. A posting placed only in a field has no occupation, so the shares can add up to less than the whole field.
| Occupation | Postings | Share of field | Lists pay | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive technician | 33,193 | 18.8% | 16.8% | $54,040 |
| Field service technician | 27,659 | 15.7% | 21.1% | $65,724 |
| Construction manager and superintendent | 17,672 | 10.0% | 26.7% | $117,500 |
| HVAC technician | 11,003 | 6.2% | 31.2% | $72,800 |
| Industrial maintenance mechanic | 10,433 | 5.9% | 24.5% | $67,579 |
| Electrician | 10,288 | 5.8% | 23.6% | $79,815 |
| Diesel and heavy equipment mechanic | 7,452 | 4.2% | 26.4% | $69,160 |
| Construction laborer | 7,214 | 4.1% | 16.3% | $45,760 |
| Machinist and CNC programmer | 6,351 | 3.6% | 23.5% | $67,500 |
| Painter, roofer, mason and finish trades | 5,406 | 3.1% | 21.3% | $54,080 |
| Vehicle detailer and car wash attendant | 5,372 | 3.0% | 33.0% | $35,360 |
| Welder | 5,212 | 3.0% | 16.9% | $56,160 |
| Heavy equipment operator | 5,165 | 2.9% | 15.0% | $57,200 |
| Plumber and pipefitter | 5,100 | 2.9% | 28.7% | $75,000 |
| Cost estimator | 4,693 | 2.7% | 22.3% | $110,000 |
| Auto body and glass technician | 3,922 | 2.2% | 16.1% | $75,000 |
| Carpenter | 3,106 | 1.8% | 21.8% | $57,200 |
| Construction inspector and QA/QC | 2,803 | 1.6% | 22.1% | $80,000 |
Specialties in skilled trades and construction
The 20 specialties with the most US postings in skilled trades and construction, among those with at least 50, each as a share of its occupation's US postings, as of November 5, 2026. Many postings name no specialty.
| Specialty | Occupation | Postings | Share of occupation | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lube and general service | Automotive technician | 14,168 | 42.7% | $53,108 |
| Industrial equipment | Field service technician | 4,015 | 14.5% | $72,800 |
| Tire, brake and alignment | Automotive technician | 2,749 | 8.3% | $44,720 |
| Residential service | HVAC technician | 2,448 | 22.2% | $75,561 |
| Commercial and industrial | Electrician | 2,243 | 21.8% | $79,040 |
| Collision repair | Auto body and glass technician | 2,227 | 56.8% | $85,000 |
| Painting | Painter, roofer, mason and finish trades | 2,018 | 37.3% | $49,993 |
| Diagnostics and master tech | Automotive technician | 1,769 | 5.3% | $70,000 |
| Refrigeration | HVAC technician | 1,590 | 14.5% | Held back |
| Medical equipment | Field service technician | 1,133 | 4.1% | $72,500 |
| Commercial | HVAC technician | 921 | 8.4% | $75,460 |
| Roofing | Painter, roofer, mason and finish trades | 784 | 14.5% | $56,680 |
| Low voltage | Electrician | 683 | 6.6% | $80,080 |
| Drywall and flooring | Painter, roofer, mason and finish trades | 639 | 11.8% | Held back |
| Residential | Electrician | 539 | 5.2% | $90,000 |
| Collision estimating | Auto body and glass technician | 396 | 10.1% | Held back |
| Auto glass | Auto body and glass technician | 369 | 9.4% | Fewer than 50 postings with pay |
| Masonry | Painter, roofer, mason and finish trades | 257 | 4.8% | $56,160 |
| Telecom and cable | Field service technician | 217 | 0.8% | $60,320 |
| Electric vehicles | Automotive technician | 157 | 0.5% | $72,500 |
Industries hiring for skilled trades and construction
The industries with the most US skilled trades and construction postings, each as a share of the field's US postings, as of November 5, 2026. Each posting counts in its employer's industry.
| Industry | Postings | Share of field | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 42,410 | 24.1% | $81,120 |
| Automotive | 26,390 | 15.0% | $62,400 |
| Manufacturing and consumer goods | 19,194 | 10.9% | $67,600 |
| Retail and consumer brands | 14,128 | 8.0% | Held back |
| Professional services | 7,912 | 4.5% | $90,000 |
| Transportation and logistics | 7,771 | 4.4% | $54,080 |
| Wholesale and distribution | 7,635 | 4.3% | $64,480 |
| Hospitality, food service and leisure | 6,330 | 3.6% | $52,094 |
| Aerospace and defense | 5,297 | 3.0% | $78,000 |
| Energy, mining and utilities | 4,971 | 2.8% | $79,040 |
| Staffing and recruiting | 4,637 | 2.6% | $63,440 |
| Real estate | 3,606 | 2.0% | $67,500 |
Advertised pay pages for skilled trades and construction
The role families whose jobs are in skilled trades and construction, with their advertised pay, as of November 5, 2026.
| Role family | Median | Middle 50 percent | Postings with pay | Employers | Share that list pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled trades | $62,400 | $47,840 to $78,000 | 38,555 | 5,859 | 21.6% |
Questions
- How many US job postings are in skilled trades and construction?
- 176,340 live US job postings as of November 5, 2026, 5.4% of the US postings we could place in a field.
- What do skilled trades and construction job postings pay?
- The median advertised base pay is $67,600 a year, and the middle 50 percent of postings that list pay run from $50,840 to $87,890. 39,159 of its 176,340 US postings list pay.
- Which skilled trades and construction occupations have the most job postings?
- The occupations with the most skilled trades and construction postings are automotive technician (18.8%), field service technician (15.7%), and construction manager and superintendent (10.0%), each as a share of its US postings.