What this means Our calculation
24 of 36 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is electrical lineworkers at $121,260. Prices run 1% above 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 (3.6%) and the population is growing at a typical pace (+3.8% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Salt Lake City Government data
All 36 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 | $121,260 | +25% | $120,217 | 440 | #38 |
| Rigger | $97,850 | +62% | $97,008 | 270 | #3 |
| Elevator Installer | $82,750 | -24% | $82,038 | 190 | #47 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $80,000 | +29% | $79,312 | 1,180 | #20 |
| Construction Supervisor | $78,730 | +2% | $78,053 | 6,160 | #156 |
| Building Inspector | $74,880 | +11% | $74,236 | 500 | #108 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $74,460 | +17% | $73,819 | 1,840 | #68 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $65,200 | +8% | $64,639 | 1,500 | #64 |
| Plumber | $64,800 | +5% | $64,242 | 3,190 | #134 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $62,920 | +2% | $62,379 | 660 | #125 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $62,760 | -5% | $62,220 | 200 | #144 |
| Electrician | $62,620 | +0% | $62,081 | 5,710 | #191 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $62,460 | +25% | $61,923 | 150 | #32 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $61,750 | +3% | $61,219 | 2,570 | #154 |
| Machinist | $61,640 | +8% | $61,110 | 1,210 | #65 |
| HVAC Technician | $60,790 | +2% | $60,267 | 2,540 | #163 |
| Concrete Finisher | $60,740 | +6% | $60,217 | 1,850 | #105 |
| Ironworker | $60,580 | -5% | $60,059 | 780 | #92 |
| Brickmason | $60,450 | -4% | $59,930 | 510 | #89 |
| Welder | $60,190 | +15% | $59,672 | 1,490 | #55 |
| Carpenter | $59,870 | +7% | $59,355 | 6,420 | #143 |
| Drywall Installer | $55,460 | +3% | $54,983 | 990 | #78 |
| Maintenance Technician | $52,650 | +9% | $52,197 | 6,590 | #94 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $51,730 | +0% | $51,285 | 690 | #181 |
| Glazier | $51,470 | -7% | $51,027 | 640 | #88 |
| Tile Setter | $49,990 | -1% | $49,560 | 970 | #64 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $49,760 | -2% | $49,332 | 100 | #83 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $49,350 | -2% | $48,925 | 170 | #71 |
| Painter | $48,250 | +1% | $47,835 | 1,430 | #162 |
| Roofer | $48,220 | -4% | $47,805 | 1,330 | #172 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $48,070 | -0% | $47,656 | 180 | #69 |
| Construction Laborer | $47,460 | +1% | $47,052 | 7,790 | #188 |
| Auto Mechanic | $47,280 | -3% | $46,873 | 3,910 | #273 |
| Flooring Installer | $47,030 | -16% | $46,625 | 320 | #62 |
| Pest Control Technician | $44,990 | +1% | $44,603 | 270 | #100 |
| Landscaper | $43,890 | +17% | $43,512 | 5,090 | #79 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Salt Lake City
The Salt Lake City area has about 493,951 homes. 39% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 22% were built in 2010 or later. 65% of households own their home, and the median home value is $575,200.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Salt Lake City Government data
In an average year, Salt Lake City has 62 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 8 at 100°F or more, 112 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 45 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 52 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 90°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, Salt Lake City International Airport, UT station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
3.6% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Salt Lake City area's population grew 3.8% from 2020 to 2025 (1,260,358 → 1,308,377), ranking #133 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +10,658) account for part of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Salt Lake City are down 34% from 2021 to 2025 (11,642 → 7,702). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Salt Lake City area is 24 minutes each way, about the same as the typical metro (24 min). 11% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 66% drive alone, 2% take transit and 16% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in Utah Official source
The main state licensing office in Utah is the Utah Division of Professional Licensing. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official Utah licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 3.8% of wage and salary workers in Utah were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#47 of 51 states and D.C.), and 7.8% 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 Utah.