What this means Our calculation
8 of 21 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is construction supervisors at $75,580. Prices run 0% above the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth about the same than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is higher than most metros (4.7%) and the population is shrinking (-0.6% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Flagstaff Government data
All 21 trades
Vs. U.S. compares with the typical metro for that trade. Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Click a column to sort.
| Trade | Median pay | Vs. U.S. | Real pay | Jobs | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Supervisor | $75,580 | -2% | $75,335 | 320 | #238 |
| Machinist | $71,620 | +26% | $71,388 | 50 | #10 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $71,120 | +11% | $70,890 | 60 | #100 |
| Building Inspector | $65,390 | -3% | $65,178 | 80 | #189 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $62,470 | +0% | $62,268 | 80 | #154 |
| Electrician | $61,330 | -2% | $61,131 | 250 | #220 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $60,290 | -0% | $60,095 | 100 | #201 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $58,720 | -2% | $58,530 | 250 | #206 |
| Plumber | $58,520 | -5% | $58,330 | 90 | #259 |
| Concrete Finisher | $58,490 | +2% | $58,301 | 90 | #148 |
| HVAC Technician | $58,360 | -2% | $58,171 | 140 | #237 |
| Brickmason | $57,760 | -8% | $57,573 | 30 | #106 |
| Carpenter | $55,970 | -0% | $55,789 | 280 | #198 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $54,580 | +6% | $54,403 | 50 | #147 |
| Welder | $54,460 | +4% | $54,284 | 60 | #154 |
| Solar Installer | $50,890 | -13% | $50,725 | 30 | #29 |
| Auto Mechanic | $49,030 | +0% | $48,871 | 300 | #191 |
| Painter | $46,920 | -2% | $46,768 | 160 | #208 |
| Maintenance Technician | $46,860 | -3% | $46,708 | 1,090 | #250 |
| Construction Laborer | $46,420 | -1% | $46,270 | 470 | #205 |
| Landscaper | $40,400 | +8% | $40,269 | 590 | #110 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Flagstaff
The Flagstaff area has about 72,101 homes. 27% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 13% were built in 2010 or later. 63% of households own their home, and the median home value is $468,600.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Flagstaff Government data
In an average year, Flagstaff has 3 days at 90°F or hotter (fewer than most metros; typical metro 33), 202 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 46 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 90 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 80°F and winter nights 18°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, AZ station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
4.7% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Flagstaff area's population shrank 0.6% from 2020 to 2025 (145,182 → 144,368), ranking #319 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). More people moved out than in (net -1,782).
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Flagstaff are down 40% from 2021 to 2025 (1,051 → 634). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Flagstaff area is 20 minutes each way, shorter than the typical metro (24 min). 10% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 63% drive alone, 1% take transit and 14% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in Arizona Official source
The main state licensing office in Arizona is the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Licenses all trades by classification. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official Arizona licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 4.1% of wage and salary workers in Arizona were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#45 of 51 states and D.C.), and 4.5% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only the trades.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Nearby metros
Compare any trade in two cities with city vs. city, or see every metro in Arizona.