What this means Our calculation
1 of 37 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is elevator installers at $107,440. Prices run 11% 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 (3.3%) and the population is growing faster than most (+5.1% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Tulsa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator Installer | $107,440 | -1% | $120,430 | 90 | #31 |
| Electrical Lineworker | $80,880 | -16% | $90,658 | 740 | #183 |
| Construction Supervisor | $75,000 | -3% | $84,068 | 2,950 | #250 |
| Electrician | $62,280 | -0% | $69,810 | 2,750 | #199 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $62,010 | -3% | $69,507 | 1,960 | #262 |
| Building Inspector | $61,890 | -8% | $69,373 | 650 | #252 |
| Plumber | $59,440 | -3% | $66,626 | 1,950 | #238 |
| HVAC Technician | $58,750 | -1% | $65,853 | 1,620 | #226 |
| Brickmason | $58,080 | -8% | $65,102 | 190 | #104 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $57,730 | -4% | $64,710 | 980 | #276 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $56,100 | -9% | $62,883 | 480 | #173 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $55,220 | -17% | $61,896 | 230 | #200 |
| Welder | $53,550 | +2% | $60,024 | 4,520 | #166 |
| Machinist | $53,260 | -7% | $59,699 | 2,000 | #238 |
| Ironworker | $53,190 | -17% | $59,621 | 270 | #126 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $50,310 | -19% | $56,392 | 510 | #303 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $49,390 | -4% | $55,361 | 630 | #230 |
| Roofer | $49,350 | -2% | $55,316 | 350 | #151 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $48,420 | -19% | $54,274 | 1,530 | #315 |
| Insulation Installer | $47,420 | -2% | $53,153 | 270 | #63 |
| Auto Mechanic | $47,410 | -3% | $53,142 | 2,430 | #267 |
| Carpenter | $46,810 | -17% | $52,469 | 1,320 | #346 |
| Glazier | $46,290 | -16% | $51,886 | 160 | #136 |
| Concrete Finisher | $46,160 | -19% | $51,741 | 1,140 | #281 |
| Drywall Installer | $46,080 | -14% | $51,651 | 110 | #147 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $45,790 | -9% | $51,326 | 70 | #101 |
| Maintenance Technician | $45,760 | -5% | $51,292 | 4,340 | #292 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $45,000 | -12% | $50,441 | 260 | #127 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $44,800 | -7% | $50,216 | 210 | #110 |
| Rigger | $44,770 | -26% | $50,183 | 70 | #66 |
| Tile Setter | $44,130 | -13% | $49,465 | 90 | #113 |
| Construction Laborer | $43,200 | -8% | $48,423 | 3,990 | #275 |
| Painter | $42,670 | -10% | $47,829 | 520 | #304 |
| Pest Control Technician | $39,670 | -11% | $44,466 | 370 | #159 |
| Fence Installer | $38,480 | -21% | $43,132 | 70 | #48 |
| Flooring Installer | $38,240 | -32% | $42,863 | 60 | #70 |
| Landscaper | $36,780 | -2% | $41,227 | 2,360 | #244 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Tulsa
The Tulsa area has about 455,766 homes. 47% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is about as old as most; 15% were built in 2010 or later. 65% of households own their home, and the median home value is $247,500.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Tulsa Government data
In an average year, Tulsa has 74 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 11 at 100°F or more, 72 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 60 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 9 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 92°F and winter nights 30°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Tulsa International Airport, OK station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
3.3% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Tulsa area's population grew 5.1% from 2020 to 2025 (1,017,349 → 1,069,273), ranking #96 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +48,511) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Tulsa are roughly flat from 2021 to 2025 (4,920 → 5,154). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Tulsa area is 23 minutes each way, about the same as the typical metro (24 min). 9% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 77% drive alone, 0% take transit and 9% 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.