What this means Our calculation
30 of 34 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is building inspectors at $101,340. Prices run 5% 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 (6.7%) and the population is growing faster than most (+5.5% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Stockton Government data
All 34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Inspector | $101,340 | +50% | $96,433 | 130 | #11 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $100,460 | +52% | $95,595 | 120 | #18 |
| Construction Supervisor | $82,490 | +7% | $78,495 | 1,140 | #99 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $77,420 | +30% | $73,671 | 760 | #63 |
| Electrician | $76,410 | +22% | $72,710 | 1,180 | #101 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $76,140 | +19% | $72,453 | 740 | #44 |
| HVAC Technician | $75,710 | +27% | $72,044 | 390 | #25 |
| Brickmason | $75,490 | +20% | $71,834 | 150 | #37 |
| Ironworker | $74,890 | +17% | $71,263 | 170 | #57 |
| Drywall Installer | $73,520 | +37% | $69,960 | 450 | #14 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $72,520 | +17% | $69,008 | 200 | #77 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $70,410 | +17% | $67,000 | 760 | #39 |
| Flooring Installer | $69,610 | +25% | $66,239 | 120 | #13 |
| Carpenter | $69,160 | +23% | $65,811 | 1,260 | #46 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $69,110 | +12% | $65,763 | 70 | #89 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $66,870 | +31% | $63,632 | 70 | #6 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $63,810 | +23% | $60,720 | 260 | #15 |
| Plumber | $62,900 | +2% | $59,854 | 690 | #169 |
| Auto Mechanic | $62,840 | +29% | $59,797 | 1,310 | #14 |
| Roofer | $61,950 | +24% | $58,950 | 240 | #41 |
| Glazier | $61,240 | +11% | $58,274 | 90 | #44 |
| Maintenance Technician | $59,590 | +23% | $56,704 | 2,740 | #15 |
| Solar Installer | $59,110 | +1% | $56,248 | 120 | #21 |
| Tile Setter | $58,970 | +17% | $56,114 | 180 | #31 |
| Plasterer | $58,780 | -0% | $55,934 | 140 | #30 |
| Fence Installer | $58,750 | +21% | $55,905 | 150 | #5 |
| Construction Laborer | $57,450 | +23% | $54,668 | 1,470 | #56 |
| Concrete Finisher | $56,980 | -0% | $54,221 | 640 | #173 |
| Welder | $51,480 | -2% | $48,987 | 740 | #211 |
| Machinist | $50,920 | -11% | $48,454 | 220 | #270 |
| Painter | $50,290 | +6% | $47,855 | 590 | #117 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $48,360 | +0% | $46,018 | 110 | #65 |
| Pest Control Technician | $47,240 | +6% | $44,952 | 230 | #43 |
| Landscaper | $44,280 | +18% | $42,136 | 1,390 | #74 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Stockton
The Stockton area has about 266,936 homes. 42% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 14% were built in 2010 or later. 62% of households own their home, and the median home value is $562,500.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Stockton Government data
In an average year, Stockton has 88 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 19 at 100°F or more, 19 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 32 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more. Summer afternoons average 93°F and winter nights 40°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Stockton Metro Airport, CA station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
6.7% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Stockton area's population grew 5.5% from 2020 to 2025 (780,618 → 823,815), ranking #85 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +27,693) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Stockton are down 43% from 2021 to 2025 (4,389 → 2,522). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Stockton area is 35 minutes each way, longer than the typical metro (24 min). 27% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 72% drive alone, 1% take transit and 10% 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.