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As of October 2025, the average trades helper salary in the United States is $37,077 per year, which equals about $18 per hour. This figure varies significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific trade specialization.
Entry-level trades helpers can expect to earn around $30,000 annually, while those with more experience or specialized skills can earn upwards of $45,000 per year. Experience plays a crucial role in salary advancement, with many trades helpers seeing significant increases in earnings as they gain expertise.
States such as California, New York, and Texas typically offer higher salaries for trades helpers due to increased demand and cost of living. For instance, in California, trades helpers can earn an average salary of approximately $45,000, while in New York, the average rises to about $42,000.
Some of the highest-paying trades helper roles include positions in construction, electrical work, and plumbing, where specialized skills can lead to increased compensation. By understanding the salary landscape and the factors that influence earnings, trades helpers can strategically plan their career moves to maximize their income potential.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level trades helper | $28,500 | $13.72 |
| Mid-level trades helper | $33,200 | $15.97 |
| Senior-level trades helper | $51,800 | $24.90 |
The highest-paying states for trades helpers are New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The lowest average trades helper salary states are Wyoming, Nevada, and Kansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $57,208 | $27.50 |
| 2 | Michigan | $45,840 | $22.04 |
| 3 | New York | $65,880 | $31.67 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $50,478 | $24.27 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $53,900 | $25.91 |
| 6 | Alaska | $42,170 | $20.27 |
| 7 | Ohio | $46,383 | $22.30 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $57,204 | $27.50 |
| 9 | Maine | $39,583 | $19.03 |
| 10 | Vermont | $40,916 | $19.67 |
| 11 | Montana | $37,227 | $17.90 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $40,033 | $19.25 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $49,984 | $24.03 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $38,059 | $18.30 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $43,077 | $20.71 |
| 16 | Delaware | $44,276 | $21.29 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $44,158 | $21.23 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $37,010 | $17.79 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $36,078 | $17.35 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $37,667 | $18.11 |
| 21 | Illinois | $43,022 | $20.68 |
| 22 | Maryland | $43,266 | $20.80 |
| 23 | Washington | $38,070 | $18.30 |
| 24 | California | $43,822 | $21.07 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $39,342 | $18.91 |
| 26 | Virginia | $35,955 | $17.29 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $32,557 | $15.65 |
| 28 | Utah | $33,964 | $16.33 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $44,152 | $21.23 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $32,941 | $15.84 |
| 31 | Missouri | $38,291 | $18.41 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $33,325 | $16.02 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $32,700 | $15.72 |
| 34 | Oregon | $33,689 | $16.20 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $31,243 | $15.02 |
| 36 | Colorado | $34,534 | $16.60 |
| 37 | Indiana | $34,563 | $16.62 |
| 38 | Alabama | $31,364 | $15.08 |
| 39 | Iowa | $31,124 | $14.96 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $26,911 | $12.94 |
| 41 | Arizona | $32,623 | $15.68 |
| 42 | Florida | $30,100 | $14.47 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $29,896 | $14.37 |
| 44 | Georgia | $29,930 | $14.39 |
| 45 | Nevada | $26,533 | $12.76 |
| 46 | Idaho | $24,701 | $11.88 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $27,704 | $13.32 |
| 48 | Kansas | $26,030 | $12.51 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $24,719 | $11.88 |
| 50 | Texas | $25,331 | $12.18 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $28,279 | $13.60 |
The highest-paying cities for trades helpers are New York, NY, Columbus, OH, and Fresno, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $66,367 | $31.91 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $45,064 | $21.67 |
| 3 | Fresno, CA | $44,506 | $21.40 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $43,736 | $21.03 |
| 5 | Bremerton, WA | $38,270 | $18.40 |
| 6 | Leesburg, VA | $37,776 | $18.16 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, NC | $36,699 | $17.64 |
| 8 | Clearfield, UT | $33,963 | $16.33 |
| 9 | Tempe, AZ | $32,619 | $15.68 |
| 10 | Jacksonville, FL | $30,590 | $14.71 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $29,984 | $14.42 |
| 12 | Jonesboro, AR | $28,605 | $13.75 |
| 13 | El Paso, TX | $25,771 | $12.39 |
| 14 | Tulsa, OK | $24,770 | $11.91 |
A trades helper's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $60,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| Average | $37,077 | $3,090 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
The highest paying types of trades helpers are construction specialist, construction apprentice, and concrete technician.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Apprentice | $47,983 | $3,999 | $23.07 | 40,760 |
| Construction Labour | $32,628 | $2,719 | $15.69 | 48,914 |
| Construction Worker | $31,842 | $2,653 | $15.31 | 53,067 |
| Helper/Apprentice | $32,425 | $2,702 | $15.59 | 22,620 |
| Construction Helper | $34,148 | $2,846 | $16.42 | 49,381 |
| Mechanic Helper | $31,892 | $2,658 | $15.33 | 48,546 |
Top companies hiring trades helpers now:
Trades helper salaries at Katerra and D. E. Shaw group are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average trades helper salary at companies like Bering Straits and Jacobs Engineering Group are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Katerra | $111,847 | $53.77 |
| 2 | D. E. Shaw group | $91,194 | $43.84 |
| 3 | Bering Straits | $90,273 | $43.40 |
| 4 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $90,119 | $43.33 |
| 5 | General Dynamics Mission Systems | $74,428 | $35.78 |
| 6 | Vectrus | $61,480 | $29.56 |
| 7 | American Water | $53,576 | $25.76 |
| 8 | General Dynamics | $50,537 | $24.30 |
| 9 | Tower Research Capital | $49,859 | $23.97 |
| 10 | TechFlow | $47,742 | $22.95 |
| 11 | University of Rochester | $46,374 | $22.30 |
| 12 | Polk County | $44,762 | $21.52 |
| 13 | EMCOR Group | $44,533 | $21.41 |
| 14 | APTIM | $43,732 | $21.02 |
| 15 | State Bar of Michigan | $42,415 | $20.39 |
| 16 | Chugach Alaska | $39,024 | $18.76 |
| 17 | Epsilon Systems | $37,646 | $18.10 |
| 18 | J&J Worldwide Services | $37,602 | $18.08 |
| 19 | Nes Holdings | $37,274 | $17.92 |
| 20 | Arizona State University | $36,823 | $17.70 |
The average trades helper salary has risen by $7,985 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average trades helper earned $29,092 annually, but today, they earn $37,077 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for trades helpers over the last decade.
Compare trades helper salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare trades helper salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,100 | $17.83 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $36,100 | $17.34 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $35,000 | $16.84 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $33,800 | $16.24 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | $32,700 | $15.73 | +4.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Skilled Trades Helper-Evening Shift | North Little Rock, AR | 06/30/2025 | $31,200 |
| Port Authority of New York and New Jersey | Path Communications-Trade Helper | Jersey City, NJ | 06/27/2025 | $67,535 |
| Centerlight Healthcare | Trades Helper | Bronxville, NY | 06/27/2025 | $44,835 |
| Pride Industries | Maintenance Trades Helper | Fort Polk South, LA | 06/18/2025 | $40,488 |
| Pride Industries | Maintenance Trades Helper | Ozark, AL | 06/18/2025 | $49,587 |
| Crossroads Diversified Services | Maintenance Trades Helper | Noble, LA | 06/18/2025 | $40,488 |
| Crossroads Diversified Services | Maintenance Trades Helper | Alabama | 06/18/2025 | $49,587 |
| University Hospital | Trades Helper/Skilled Trades | Newark, NJ | 06/10/2025 | $40,175 |
| Innovative Consulting & Management Services | Maintenance Trades Helper | Warrenton, VA | 06/09/2025 | $42,303 |
| University of Arkansas System | Skilled Trades Helper | Little Rock, AR | 06/06/2025 | $31,200 |
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