Best cities for a tradesman
The best cities for tradesmen are Stockton, CA, San Diego, CA, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for tradesmen vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for tradesmen in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a tradesman or considering a move, this list of the best cities for tradesmen to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for tradesmen. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a tradesman. While the absolute best city for tradesmen is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for tradesmen in 2024.
If you're looking for a tradesman job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for tradesmen in 2025
1. Stockton, CA
Total tradesman jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $52,699 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location quotient: 20.74 2. San Diego, CA
Total tradesman jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $51,824 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location quotient: 5.46 3. San Francisco, CA
Total tradesman jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $53,057 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 0.00 4. Oakland, CA
Total tradesman jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $52,999 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Los Angeles, CA
Total tradesman jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $52,143 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 0.86 6. San Jose, CA
Total tradesman jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $52,975 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. Saint Paul, MN
Total tradesman jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $45,051 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Fremont, CA
Total tradesman jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $52,968 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Minneapolis, MN
Total tradesman jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $45,031 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Bakersfield, CA
Total tradesman jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $52,380 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for tradesmen
- Stockton, CA
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Saint Paul, MN
- Fremont, CA
- Minneapolis, MN
- Bakersfield, CA
- (4 tradesman jobs)
- (18 tradesman jobs)
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- (4 tradesman jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for a tradesman
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $52,699 | $40,000 | 307,072 | 4 |
| 2 | San Diego, CA | $51,824 | $41,000 | 1,406,630 | 18 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $53,057 | $41,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $52,999 | $41,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $52,143 | $41,000 | 3,976,322 | 4 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $52,975 | $41,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 7 | Saint Paul, MN | $45,051 | $35,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 8 | Fremont, CA | $52,968 | $41,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 9 | Minneapolis, MN | $45,031 | $35,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 10 | Bakersfield, CA | $52,380 | $41,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 11 | Long Beach, CA | $52,079 | $41,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $49,409 | $38,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 13 | Anaheim, CA | $52,025 | $41,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 14 | Santa Ana, CA | $52,010 | $41,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $40,898 | $32,000 | 1,492,510 | 4 |
| 16 | Austin, TX | $40,592 | $32,000 | 947,890 | 10 |
| 17 | Irvine, CA | $51,983 | $41,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 18 | Riverside, CA | $51,909 | $41,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 19 | Sacramento, CA | $52,604 | $40,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 20 | Chula Vista, CA | $51,813 | $41,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 21 | Fresno, CA | $52,486 | $40,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 22 | Islip, NY | $48,400 | $35,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 23 | Corpus Christi, TX | $41,170 | $32,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 24 | Brookhaven, NY | $48,398 | $35,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 25 | Hempstead, NY | $48,345 | $35,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 26 | El Paso, TX | $40,784 | $32,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 27 | Oyster Bay, NY | $48,318 | $35,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 28 | New York, NY | $48,278 | $35,000 | 8,537,673 | 2 |
| 29 | Philadelphia, PA | $38,747 | $28,000 | 1,567,872 | - |
| 30 | Houston, TX | $40,537 | $32,000 | 2,303,482 | - |
| 31 | Cleveland, OH | $37,445 | $28,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 32 | Miami, FL | $42,000 | $32,000 | 453,579 | - |
| 33 | Hialeah, FL | $41,996 | $32,000 | 236,387 | - |
| 34 | Laredo, TX | $41,357 | $33,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 35 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $41,731 | $32,000 | 260,999 | - |
| 36 | Toledo, OH | $36,926 | $28,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 37 | Tampa, FL | $41,629 | $32,000 | 377,165 | - |
| 38 | Orlando, FL | $41,395 | $32,000 | 277,173 | 1 |
| 39 | Buffalo, NY | $46,769 | $35,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 40 | Jersey City, NJ | $46,568 | $34,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 41 | Detroit, MI | $38,248 | $29,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 42 | Kansas City, MO | $39,701 | $31,000 | 481,420 | 3 |
| 43 | Newark, NJ | $46,544 | $34,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 44 | Memphis, TN | $35,605 | $28,000 | 652,717 | 5 |
| 45 | Lubbock, TX | $39,606 | $31,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 46 | Milwaukee, WI | $38,284 | $29,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 47 | Saint Louis, MO | $39,818 | $31,000 | 311,404 | - |
| 48 | Columbus, OH | $36,391 | $28,000 | 860,090 | - |
| 49 | Fort Worth, TX | $39,262 | $31,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 50 | Arlington, TX | $39,246 | $31,000 | 392,772 | - |
Highest paying cities for tradesmen
| Rank | City | Avg. tradesman salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beverly Hills, CA | $52,145 |
| 2 | Binghamton, NY | $47,448 |
| 3 | Hamilton, NJ | $46,561 |
| 4 | Fort Myers, FL | $41,983 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $40,592 |
| 6 | Englewood, CO | $40,159 |
| 7 | Springfield, OR | $40,049 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $39,701 |
| 9 | Newport News, VA | $38,715 |
| 10 | Appleton, WI | $38,586 |
| 11 | Gilbert, AZ | $38,178 |
| 12 | Brownstown, MI | $38,126 |
| 13 | Canton, OH | $37,352 |
| 14 | Albuquerque, NM | $37,160 |
| 15 | Fayetteville, NC | $37,004 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $36,926 |
| 17 | Mobile, AL | $36,078 |
| 18 | Charleston, SC | $35,617 |
| 19 | Memphis, TN | $35,605 |
| 20 | Des Moines, IA | $35,591 |
Tradesman best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025