What this means Our calculation
32 of 37 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is electrical lineworkers at $127,580. Prices run 0% below 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 lower than most metros (3.4%) and the population is growing at a typical pace (+1.9% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Albany Government data
All 37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Lineworker | $127,580 | +32% | $128,136 | 460 | #22 |
| Elevator Installer | $121,470 | +12% | $121,999 | 90 | #23 |
| Construction Supervisor | $83,750 | +8% | $84,115 | 1,840 | #88 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $82,540 | +38% | $82,900 | 1,000 | #36 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $78,610 | +19% | $78,953 | 490 | #74 |
| Plumber | $77,460 | +26% | $77,798 | 1,470 | #72 |
| Ironworker | $77,110 | +20% | $77,446 | 150 | #42 |
| Brickmason | $76,890 | +22% | $77,225 | 80 | #29 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $76,220 | +19% | $76,552 | 850 | #42 |
| Electrician | $74,890 | +20% | $75,216 | 1,820 | #113 |
| Building Inspector | $69,450 | +3% | $69,753 | 560 | #149 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $66,370 | +8% | $66,659 | 280 | #97 |
| HVAC Technician | $66,040 | +11% | $66,328 | 1,450 | #64 |
| Machinist | $63,970 | +12% | $64,249 | 580 | #34 |
| Roofer | $63,920 | +27% | $64,199 | 440 | #24 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $63,850 | +6% | $64,128 | 780 | #90 |
| Concrete Finisher | $62,980 | +10% | $63,255 | 330 | #62 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $61,560 | -1% | $61,828 | 290 | #184 |
| Carpenter | $60,720 | +8% | $60,985 | 2,000 | #125 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $60,390 | +25% | $60,653 | 310 | #10 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $59,780 | +20% | $60,041 | 240 | #43 |
| Welder | $59,390 | +14% | $59,649 | 550 | #65 |
| Drywall Installer | $58,020 | +8% | $58,273 | 160 | #69 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $57,820 | +13% | $58,072 | 100 | #42 |
| Flooring Installer | $57,720 | +3% | $57,972 | 60 | #29 |
| Tile Setter | $57,670 | +14% | $57,921 | 110 | #43 |
| Insulation Installer | $57,190 | +18% | $57,439 | 90 | #23 |
| Auto Mechanic | $55,500 | +14% | $55,742 | 2,140 | #93 |
| Construction Laborer | $52,940 | +13% | $53,171 | 2,700 | #98 |
| Painter | $51,650 | +8% | $51,875 | 480 | #96 |
| Maintenance Technician | $49,490 | +2% | $49,706 | 4,970 | #149 |
| Solar Installer | $49,470 | -15% | $49,686 | 100 | #32 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $49,270 | -5% | $49,485 | 500 | #234 |
| Glazier | $48,840 | -12% | $49,053 | 110 | #100 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $45,550 | -10% | $45,749 | 70 | #103 |
| Pest Control Technician | $45,390 | +2% | $45,588 | 270 | #85 |
| Landscaper | $41,290 | +10% | $41,470 | 2,400 | #105 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Albany
The Albany area has about 426,194 homes. 62% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is older than most; 10% were built in 2010 or later. Older homes often need more repair, replacement and upgrade work. 64% of households own their home, and the median home value is $316,300.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Albany Government data
In an average year, Albany has 10 days at 90°F or hotter (fewer than most metros; typical metro 33), 136 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 81 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 59 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 82°F and winter nights 19°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Albany Airport, NY station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
3.4% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Albany area's population grew 1.9% from 2020 to 2025 (898,629 → 915,835), ranking #220 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +21,631) account for more than all of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Albany are down 24% from 2021 to 2025 (2,697 → 2,047). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Albany area is 24 minutes each way, about the same as the typical metro (24 min). 11% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 73% drive alone, 3% take transit and 13% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in New York Official source
New York licenses most trades at the city or county level (e.g. New York City). Check with the building or licensing office where you plan to work.
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 21.3% of wage and salary workers in New York were union members, above the U.S. rate of about 10% (#2 of 51 states and D.C.), and 22.5% 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 New York.