What this means Our calculation
26 of 37 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is electrical lineworkers at $91,120. Prices run 6% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is about the same as most metros (4.0%) and the population is shrinking (-0.8% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Cleveland 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 | $91,120 | -6% | $97,016 | 440 | #152 |
| Construction Supervisor | $80,610 | +4% | $85,826 | 3,550 | #122 |
| Brickmason | $78,530 | +25% | $83,611 | 560 | #22 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $77,410 | +26% | $82,419 | 620 | #44 |
| Ironworker | $76,060 | +19% | $80,981 | 380 | #50 |
| Building Inspector | $74,960 | +11% | $79,810 | 720 | #104 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $71,740 | +20% | $76,382 | 2,660 | #88 |
| Electrician | $70,860 | +13% | $75,445 | 4,420 | #134 |
| Concrete Finisher | $66,080 | +15% | $70,356 | 900 | #38 |
| Plasterer | $64,500 | +10% | $68,673 | 40 | #16 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $64,460 | +4% | $68,631 | 550 | #121 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $63,500 | -1% | $67,609 | 4,300 | #208 |
| Drywall Installer | $63,150 | +17% | $67,236 | 230 | #34 |
| Plumber | $63,020 | +3% | $67,098 | 3,040 | #166 |
| HVAC Technician | $62,790 | +5% | $66,853 | 2,610 | #103 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $62,690 | +4% | $66,746 | 1,970 | #115 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $62,290 | -6% | $66,320 | 370 | #151 |
| Carpenter | $60,650 | +8% | $64,574 | 3,280 | #127 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $60,320 | +21% | $64,223 | 370 | #39 |
| Glazier | $59,630 | +8% | $63,488 | 310 | #60 |
| Flooring Installer | $58,950 | +6% | $62,764 | 210 | #27 |
| Machinist | $58,240 | +2% | $62,008 | 3,980 | #151 |
| Construction Laborer | $57,180 | +22% | $60,880 | 5,660 | #59 |
| Rigger | $56,950 | -6% | $60,635 | 60 | #43 |
| Roofer | $55,690 | +11% | $59,293 | 780 | #107 |
| Maintenance Technician | $51,930 | +7% | $55,290 | 12,860 | #106 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $51,590 | +1% | $54,928 | 190 | #70 |
| Auto Mechanic | $50,260 | +3% | $53,512 | 4,120 | #154 |
| Tile Setter | $49,910 | -1% | $53,139 | 150 | #65 |
| Painter | $49,590 | +4% | $52,799 | 1,110 | #124 |
| Welder | $49,040 | -6% | $52,213 | 3,510 | #281 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $48,750 | -6% | $51,904 | 1,180 | #249 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $47,720 | -6% | $50,808 | 130 | #85 |
| Insulation Installer | $47,340 | -2% | $50,403 | 150 | #66 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $45,800 | -5% | $48,763 | 110 | #97 |
| Pest Control Technician | $42,150 | -5% | $44,877 | 310 | #146 |
| Landscaper | $38,230 | +2% | $40,704 | 6,910 | #155 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Cleveland
The Cleveland area has about 1,022,657 homes. 70% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is older than most; 6% were built in 2010 or later. Older homes often need more repair, replacement and upgrade work. 68% of households own their home, and the median home value is $234,700.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Cleveland Government data
In an average year, Cleveland has 9 days at 90°F or hotter (fewer than most metros; typical metro 33), 92 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 74 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more. Summer afternoons average 79°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, Cleveland Burke Airport, OH station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
4.0% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Cleveland area's population shrank 0.8% from 2020 to 2025 (2,184,166 → 2,165,775), ranking #329 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%).
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Cleveland are roughly flat from 2024 to 2025 (4,289 → 4,174). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2024–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Cleveland area is 24 minutes each way, about the same as the typical metro (24 min). 10% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 72% drive alone, 2% take transit and 14% 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.