What this means Our calculation
32 of 38 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is elevator installers at $122,260. Prices run 9% above the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth less than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is about the same as most metros (3.8%) and the population is growing at a typical pace (+3.3% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Washington Government data
All 38 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 | $122,260 | +13% | $112,285 | 400 | #21 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $95,560 | +44% | $87,763 | 2,860 | #33 |
| Electrical Lineworker | $95,480 | -1% | $87,690 | 1,530 | #137 |
| Construction Supervisor | $83,540 | +8% | $76,724 | 14,660 | #91 |
| Building Inspector | $80,150 | +19% | $73,610 | 4,060 | #54 |
| Electrician | $75,930 | +22% | $69,735 | 16,580 | #104 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $74,720 | +17% | $68,623 | 2,060 | #63 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $72,580 | +20% | $66,658 | 2,910 | #34 |
| HVAC Technician | $71,920 | +21% | $66,052 | 8,730 | #50 |
| Plumber | $71,860 | +17% | $65,997 | 9,420 | #108 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $69,800 | +12% | $64,105 | 2,720 | #94 |
| Rigger | $69,030 | +14% | $63,398 | 280 | #24 |
| Machinist | $68,850 | +21% | $63,232 | 620 | #15 |
| Ironworker | $68,320 | +7% | $62,746 | 1,060 | #72 |
| Plasterer | $64,310 | +9% | $59,063 | 110 | #18 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $63,840 | +26% | $58,631 | 330 | #12 |
| Glazier | $63,310 | +15% | $58,144 | 1,380 | #30 |
| Auto Mechanic | $61,860 | +27% | $56,813 | 12,030 | #22 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $61,660 | +3% | $56,629 | 6,450 | #158 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $61,270 | -0% | $56,271 | 1,840 | #142 |
| Carpenter | $60,800 | +8% | $55,839 | 13,280 | #124 |
| Brickmason | $60,670 | -4% | $55,720 | 1,910 | #86 |
| Welder | $60,670 | +16% | $55,720 | 2,000 | #51 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $59,770 | +16% | $54,893 | 2,150 | #48 |
| Drywall Installer | $59,070 | +10% | $54,250 | 2,210 | #66 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $58,800 | +18% | $54,002 | 980 | #47 |
| Concrete Finisher | $58,350 | +2% | $53,589 | 2,810 | #153 |
| Roofer | $58,340 | +16% | $53,580 | 1,940 | #92 |
| Maintenance Technician | $57,240 | +18% | $52,570 | 23,100 | #41 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $56,420 | +11% | $51,817 | 260 | #49 |
| Painter | $50,560 | +6% | $46,435 | 4,380 | #111 |
| Flooring Installer | $49,970 | -11% | $45,893 | 250 | #49 |
| Tile Setter | $49,180 | -3% | $45,167 | 450 | #69 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $48,390 | +0% | $44,442 | 500 | #64 |
| Pest Control Technician | $48,010 | +8% | $44,093 | 1,630 | #29 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,430 | +1% | $43,560 | 17,710 | #189 |
| Insulation Installer | $45,900 | -5% | $42,155 | 1,330 | #86 |
| Landscaper | $42,700 | +14% | $39,216 | 17,140 | #97 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Washington
The Washington area has about 2,550,314 homes. 44% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is about as old as most; 16% were built in 2010 or later. 63% of households own their home, and the median home value is $604,800.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Washington Government data
In an average year, Washington has 33 days at 90°F or hotter (about typical; typical metro 33), 102 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 74 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 21 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 86°F and winter nights 27°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Washington Dc Dulles Airport, VA station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
3.8% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Washington area's population grew 3.3% from 2020 to 2025 (6,260,638 → 6,465,724), ranking #158 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +54,617) account for part of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Washington are down 34% from 2021 to 2025 (27,414 → 17,990). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Washington area is 34 minutes each way, longer than the typical metro (24 min). 29% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 57% drive alone, 9% take transit and 20% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in District of Columbia Official source
The main state licensing office in District of Columbia is the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official District of Columbia licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 9.2% of wage and salary workers in District of Columbia were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#23 of 51 states and D.C.), and 10.7% 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 District of Columbia.