What this means Our calculation
4 of 22 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is construction supervisors at $66,910. Prices run 4% 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 (+6.5% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Winchester Government data
All 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Supervisor | $66,910 | -13% | $69,373 | 300 | #334 |
| Building Inspector | $66,220 | -2% | $68,657 | 90 | #182 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $61,490 | -4% | $63,753 | 290 | #282 |
| Ironworker | $60,420 | -6% | $62,644 | 30 | #93 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $60,190 | -0% | $62,405 | 190 | #210 |
| Electrician | $58,960 | -6% | $61,130 | 180 | #268 |
| Plumber | $57,760 | -6% | $59,886 | 160 | #272 |
| Auto Mechanic | $57,570 | +18% | $59,689 | 410 | #75 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $56,280 | +9% | $58,351 | 60 | #122 |
| HVAC Technician | $56,250 | -6% | $58,320 | 200 | #274 |
| Welder | $54,690 | +5% | $56,703 | 120 | #149 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $50,790 | -15% | $52,659 | 260 | #268 |
| Carpenter | $50,180 | -11% | $52,027 | 270 | #253 |
| Machinist | $49,130 | -14% | $50,938 | 100 | #312 |
| Maintenance Technician | $48,550 | +0% | $50,337 | 670 | #189 |
| Concrete Finisher | $47,560 | -17% | $49,311 | 110 | #259 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $47,530 | -5% | $49,279 | 40 | #101 |
| Roofer | $45,690 | -9% | $47,372 | 40 | #230 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $44,910 | -27% | $46,563 | 80 | #258 |
| Painter | $43,600 | -8% | $45,205 | 60 | #290 |
| Construction Laborer | $42,160 | -10% | $43,712 | 350 | #291 |
| Landscaper | $36,210 | -4% | $37,543 | 360 | #286 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Winchester
The Winchester area has about 64,236 homes. 38% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 16% were built in 2010 or later. 76% of households own their home, and the median home value is $372,000.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Winchester Government data
In an average year, Winchester has 23 days at 90°F or hotter (about typical; typical metro 33), 101 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 75 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 23 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 84°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, Winchester, VA 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 Winchester area's population grew 6.5% from 2020 to 2025 (142,980 → 152,332), ranking #71 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +9,512) account for more than all of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Winchester are down 12% from 2021 to 2025 (1,022 → 904). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Winchester area is 33 minutes each way, longer than the typical metro (24 min). 28% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 75% drive alone, 0% take transit and 11% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in Virginia Official source
The main state licensing office in Virginia is the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official Virginia licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 5.4% of wage and salary workers in Virginia were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#38 of 51 states and D.C.), and 6.4% 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 Virginia.