What this means Our calculation
3 of 35 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is electrical lineworkers at $79,470. Prices run 10% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is lower than most metros (3.2%) and the population is growing faster than most (+5.8% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Oklahoma City Government data
All 35 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 | $79,470 | -18% | $87,902 | 720 | #200 |
| Construction Supervisor | $74,780 | -3% | $82,714 | 4,460 | #254 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $68,140 | +11% | $75,369 | 2,070 | #92 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $61,840 | -3% | $68,401 | 1,980 | #270 |
| Elevator Installer | $61,680 | -43% | $68,224 | 40 | #52 |
| Electrician | $61,010 | -2% | $67,483 | 3,100 | #227 |
| HVAC Technician | $60,120 | +1% | $66,499 | 2,120 | #183 |
| Building Inspector | $59,610 | -12% | $65,934 | 800 | #288 |
| Plumber | $59,150 | -4% | $65,426 | 2,400 | #246 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $58,370 | -12% | $64,563 | 540 | #183 |
| Machinist | $57,780 | +1% | $63,910 | 1,130 | #168 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $57,270 | -5% | $63,346 | 1,510 | #288 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $54,090 | -13% | $59,829 | 510 | #293 |
| Rebar Worker | $53,770 | -5% | $59,475 | 80 | #15 |
| Brickmason | $51,200 | -19% | $56,632 | 260 | #124 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $49,360 | -4% | $54,597 | 1,040 | #231 |
| Carpenter | $48,940 | -13% | $54,132 | 1,420 | #287 |
| Welder | $48,760 | -7% | $53,933 | 2,200 | #294 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $48,690 | -18% | $53,856 | 2,250 | #309 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $48,110 | -4% | $53,214 | 190 | #94 |
| Ironworker | $47,330 | -26% | $52,352 | 470 | #144 |
| Concrete Finisher | $46,950 | -18% | $51,931 | 1,210 | #272 |
| Auto Mechanic | $46,820 | -4% | $51,787 | 3,340 | #295 |
| Painter | $46,600 | -2% | $51,544 | 900 | #221 |
| Glazier | $46,140 | -16% | $51,035 | 150 | #138 |
| Drywall Installer | $45,760 | -15% | $50,615 | 130 | #151 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $44,990 | -12% | $49,763 | 160 | #128 |
| Tile Setter | $44,530 | -12% | $49,254 | 130 | #110 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $44,340 | -8% | $49,044 | 260 | #114 |
| Maintenance Technician | $43,760 | -9% | $48,403 | 6,480 | #336 |
| Roofer | $43,680 | -13% | $48,314 | 710 | #248 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $40,030 | -21% | $44,277 | 120 | #117 |
| Pest Control Technician | $39,610 | -11% | $43,812 | 570 | #160 |
| Construction Laborer | $39,430 | -16% | $43,613 | 5,570 | #312 |
| Landscaper | $36,760 | -2% | $40,660 | 3,940 | #245 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City area has about 634,802 homes. 42% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 20% were built in 2010 or later. 63% of households own their home, and the median home value is $253,200.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Oklahoma City Government data
In an average year, Oklahoma City has 73 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 12 at 100°F or more, 72 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 52 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 7 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 91°F and winter nights 29°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Oklahoma City Will Rogers Airport, OK station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
3.2% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Oklahoma City area's population grew 5.8% from 2020 to 2025 (1,430,019 → 1,512,813), ranking #81 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +66,432) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Oklahoma City are up 6% from 2021 to 2025 (8,080 → 8,576). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Oklahoma City area is 24 minutes each way, about the same as the typical metro (24 min). 10% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 76% drive alone, 0% take transit and 10% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in Oklahoma Official source
The main state licensing office in Oklahoma is the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official Oklahoma licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 6.1% of wage and salary workers in Oklahoma were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#33 of 51 states and D.C.), and 7.3% 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 Oklahoma.