What this means Our calculation
29 of 37 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is electrical lineworkers at $93,150. Prices run 5% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is higher than most metros (4.4%) and the population is growing at a typical pace (+2.7% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Cincinnati 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 | $93,150 | -4% | $97,672 | 730 | #148 |
| Construction Supervisor | $80,520 | +4% | $84,429 | 4,730 | #125 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $76,840 | +16% | $80,570 | 880 | #90 |
| Building Inspector | $76,440 | +13% | $80,151 | 630 | #87 |
| Ironworker | $75,700 | +18% | $79,375 | 480 | #52 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $73,690 | +20% | $77,267 | 910 | #73 |
| Brickmason | $70,760 | +12% | $74,195 | 440 | #51 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $70,640 | +11% | $74,069 | 5,150 | #108 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $66,950 | +12% | $70,200 | 3,120 | #102 |
| Plumber | $65,160 | +6% | $68,323 | 3,640 | #129 |
| Electrician | $63,490 | +2% | $66,572 | 5,640 | #179 |
| Concrete Finisher | $62,990 | +10% | $66,048 | 1,410 | #61 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $62,400 | +3% | $65,429 | 2,300 | #122 |
| HVAC Technician | $62,240 | +4% | $65,262 | 2,950 | #122 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $62,100 | +22% | $65,115 | 200 | #17 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $60,680 | +22% | $63,626 | 480 | #38 |
| Carpenter | $60,110 | +7% | $63,028 | 4,610 | #139 |
| Plasterer | $60,000 | +2% | $62,913 | 50 | #27 |
| Glazier | $59,620 | +8% | $62,514 | 250 | #61 |
| Insulation Installer | $58,360 | +21% | $61,193 | 90 | #21 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $57,980 | -7% | $60,795 | 640 | #266 |
| Flooring Installer | $57,800 | +3% | $60,606 | 180 | #28 |
| Machinist | $57,300 | +0% | $60,082 | 2,890 | #177 |
| Maintenance Technician | $56,830 | +18% | $59,589 | 12,140 | #45 |
| Drywall Installer | $55,470 | +3% | $58,163 | 290 | #77 |
| Construction Laborer | $54,930 | +17% | $57,597 | 5,700 | #79 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $52,120 | +3% | $54,650 | 100 | #57 |
| Welder | $51,990 | -1% | $54,514 | 3,160 | #196 |
| Painter | $50,170 | +5% | $52,606 | 890 | #118 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $50,020 | -3% | $52,448 | 1,170 | #205 |
| Roofer | $49,210 | -2% | $51,599 | 770 | #154 |
| Auto Mechanic | $49,090 | +0% | $51,473 | 4,520 | #188 |
| Fence Installer | $48,530 | +0% | $50,886 | 180 | #24 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $47,440 | -2% | $49,743 | 200 | #78 |
| Tile Setter | $46,630 | -8% | $48,894 | 110 | #89 |
| Pest Control Technician | $42,890 | -4% | $44,972 | 430 | #144 |
| Landscaper | $38,600 | +3% | $40,474 | 6,610 | #141 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Cincinnati
The Cincinnati area has about 978,520 homes. 54% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is older than most; 11% were built in 2010 or later. Older homes often need more repair, replacement and upgrade work. 69% of households own their home, and the median home value is $288,700.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Cincinnati Government data
In an average year, Cincinnati has 27 days at 90°F or hotter (about typical; typical metro 33), 102 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 80 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more. Summer afternoons average 85°F and winter nights 26°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Cincinnati Lunken Airport, OH station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
4.4% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Cincinnati area's population grew 2.7% from 2020 to 2025 (2,251,978 → 2,312,858), ranking #185 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +46,286) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Cincinnati are down 14% from 2021 to 2025 (8,429 → 7,264). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Cincinnati area is 25 minutes each way, longer than the typical metro (24 min). 12% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 76% drive alone, 1% take transit and 13% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in Ohio Official source
The main state licensing office in Ohio is the Ohio Department of Commerce. Home of the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official Ohio licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 11.6% of wage and salary workers in Ohio were union members, above the U.S. rate of about 10% (#18 of 51 states and D.C.), and 12.8% 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 Ohio.