What this means Our calculation
37 of 39 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is elevator installers at $140,600. Prices run 14% above the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth less than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is higher than most metros (5.3%) and the population is shrinking (-2.6% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Los Angeles Government data
All 39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator Installer | $140,600 | +30% | $123,805 | 850 | #5 |
| Electrical Lineworker | $130,440 | +35% | $114,858 | 2,140 | #15 |
| Building Inspector | $100,280 | +49% | $88,301 | 3,870 | #13 |
| Construction Supervisor | $97,600 | +26% | $85,941 | 19,690 | #30 |
| Rigger | $96,880 | +60% | $85,307 | 1,250 | #4 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $96,780 | +46% | $85,219 | 2,780 | #26 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $92,890 | +56% | $81,794 | 8,780 | #19 |
| Ironworker | $78,040 | +22% | $68,718 | 2,150 | #38 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $77,380 | +28% | $68,137 | 6,520 | #12 |
| Carpenter | $75,740 | +35% | $66,692 | 30,600 | #19 |
| HVAC Technician | $73,830 | +24% | $65,011 | 10,720 | #40 |
| Electrician | $73,810 | +18% | $64,993 | 20,610 | #124 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $73,440 | +18% | $64,667 | 4,360 | #72 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $72,710 | +18% | $64,024 | 2,440 | #78 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $72,090 | +13% | $63,479 | 8,500 | #92 |
| Plumber | $71,110 | +16% | $62,616 | 15,690 | #110 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $67,090 | +30% | $59,076 | 4,270 | #9 |
| Glazier | $64,160 | +16% | $56,496 | 1,980 | #26 |
| Concrete Finisher | $63,790 | +11% | $56,170 | 7,810 | #53 |
| Roofer | $63,560 | +27% | $55,967 | 5,480 | #27 |
| Brickmason | $63,450 | +1% | $55,871 | 1,220 | #70 |
| Rebar Worker | $62,990 | +11% | $55,466 | 640 | #7 |
| Auto Mechanic | $62,820 | +29% | $55,316 | 22,330 | #15 |
| Drywall Installer | $62,800 | +17% | $55,298 | 7,710 | #37 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $61,150 | +21% | $53,845 | 960 | #19 |
| Solar Installer | $59,600 | +2% | $52,480 | 1,930 | #19 |
| Flooring Installer | $59,090 | +6% | $52,031 | 1,350 | #26 |
| Painter | $59,080 | +24% | $52,023 | 12,100 | #40 |
| Construction Laborer | $58,810 | +26% | $51,785 | 21,730 | #44 |
| Tile Setter | $58,600 | +16% | $51,600 | 2,170 | #37 |
| Plasterer | $57,930 | -2% | $51,010 | 1,690 | #32 |
| Maintenance Technician | $56,520 | +17% | $49,768 | 47,890 | #50 |
| Welder | $56,160 | +7% | $49,451 | 7,850 | #125 |
| Machinist | $55,660 | -2% | $49,011 | 7,850 | #206 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $55,420 | +9% | $48,800 | 600 | #53 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $51,160 | +6% | $45,049 | 2,470 | #42 |
| Fence Installer | $50,290 | +4% | $44,283 | 710 | #18 |
| Insulation Installer | $48,470 | +0% | $42,680 | 830 | #49 |
| Landscaper | $44,650 | +19% | $39,316 | 27,860 | #63 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles area has about 4,870,148 homes. 66% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is older than most; 8% were built in 2010 or later. Older homes often need more repair, replacement and upgrade work. 48% of households own their home, and the median home value is $908,500.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Los Angeles Government data
In an average year, Los Angeles has 26 days at 90°F or hotter (about typical; typical metro 33), including 2 at 100°F or more, 0 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 21 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more. Summer afternoons average 81°F and winter nights 49°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Los Angeles Dwtnc Campus, CA station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
5.3% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Los Angeles area's population shrank 2.6% from 2020 to 2025 (13,182,677 → 12,844,441), ranking #372 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). More people moved out than in (net -458,601).
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Los Angeles are down 13% from 2021 to 2025 (31,151 → 27,242). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Los Angeles area is 31 minutes each way, longer than the typical metro (24 min). 23% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 67% drive alone, 4% take transit and 15% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in California Official source
The main state licensing office in California is the Contractors State License Board. Licenses all trades by classification (e.g. C-10 electrical; C-36 plumbing). It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official California licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 14.9% of wage and salary workers in California were union members, above the U.S. rate of about 10% (#8 of 51 states and D.C.), and 16.7% 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 California.