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Best states for a tradesman
Quoted expert
Kate Cinnamo
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for tradesmen? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for tradesman jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for tradesman jobs.
In order to get you the best states for tradesmen, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.California is the best state, and Pacifica is the city with the highest pay for tradesmen.
10 best states for tradesmen in 2025
1. California
Total tradesman jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $52,246 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 0.55
2. New Jersey
Total tradesman jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $46,570 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 2.35
3. Illinois
Total tradesman jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $49,320 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 0.22
4. Connecticut
Total tradesman jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,016 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 0
5. Florida
Total tradesman jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $41,534 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Location Quotient: 3.76
6. New York
Total tradesman jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $48,148 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0
7. District of Columbia
Total tradesman jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $47,800 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 3.18
8. Minnesota
Total tradesman jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $45,016 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 0
9. Texas
Total tradesman jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $40,033 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 2.37
10. Delaware
Total tradesman jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $44,036 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Location Quotient: 0
Tradesman jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a tradesman
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a tradesman
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $52,246 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 6 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $46,570 | $34,000 | 9,005,644 | 7 |
| 3 | Illinois | $49,320 | $38,000 | 12,802,023 | 1 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $49,016 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 0 |
| 5 | Florida | $41,534 | $32,000 | 20,984,400 | 22 |
| 6 | New York | $48,148 | $35,000 | 19,849,399 | 0 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $47,800 | $35,000 | 693,972 | 2 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $45,016 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 0 |
| 9 | Texas | $40,033 | $31,000 | 28,304,596 | 18 |
| 10 | Delaware | $44,036 | $32,000 | 961,939 | 0 |
| 11 | Washington | $43,626 | $34,000 | 7,405,743 | 0 |
| 12 | Maryland | $44,957 | $33,000 | 6,052,177 | 1 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $42,719 | $32,000 | 6,859,819 | 0 |
| 14 | Michigan | $38,147 | $29,000 | 9,962,311 | 3 |
| 15 | Missouri | $39,719 | $31,000 | 6,113,532 | 2 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $38,277 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 2 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $38,792 | $30,000 | 755,393 | 0 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $38,521 | $28,000 | 12,805,537 | 0 |
| 19 | Arizona | $38,203 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 2 |
| 20 | Virginia | $38,612 | $29,000 | 8,470,020 | 7 |
| 21 | Colorado | $40,158 | $32,000 | 5,607,154 | 2 |
| 22 | Maine | $36,757 | $29,000 | 1,335,907 | 3 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $37,210 | $29,000 | 2,088,070 | 1 |
| 24 | Indiana | $36,194 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 3 |
| 25 | Oregon | $39,817 | $31,000 | 4,142,776 | 0 |
| 26 | Ohio | $36,686 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 2 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $44,638 | $39,000 | 1,427,538 | 0 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $38,074 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $36,897 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 3 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $36,389 | $29,000 | 4,684,333 | 2 |
| 31 | Nevada | $36,969 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 0 |
| 32 | Vermont | $38,009 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 33 | Georgia | $36,243 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 11 |
| 34 | Alabama | $35,574 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 1 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $36,547 | $28,000 | 1,342,795 | 1 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $35,754 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 0 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $35,463 | $28,000 | 5,024,369 | 3 |
| 38 | Iowa | $35,738 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 0 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $35,641 | $28,000 | 3,930,864 | 0 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $33,491 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 1 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $34,772 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 0 |
| 42 | Alaska | $35,507 | $30,000 | 739,795 | 0 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $34,129 | $27,000 | 869,666 | 0 |
| 44 | Utah | $33,814 | $27,000 | 3,101,833 | 1 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $34,083 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 0 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $33,389 | $26,000 | 1,920,076 | 0 |
| 47 | Kansas | $33,036 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 0 |
| 48 | Idaho | $32,975 | $26,000 | 1,716,943 | 0 |
| 49 | Montana | $32,749 | $26,000 | 1,050,493 | 0 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $31,838 | $25,000 | 3,004,279 | 0 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $29,232 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 0 |
Highest paying states for tradesmen
| Rank | State | Avg. Tradesman Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $52,246 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $46,570 |
| 3 | Illinois | $49,320 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $49,016 |
| 5 | Florida | $41,534 |
| 6 | New York | $48,148 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $47,800 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $45,016 |
| 9 | Texas | $40,033 |
| 10 | Delaware | $44,036 |
| 11 | Washington | $43,626 |
| 12 | Maryland | $44,957 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $42,719 |
| 14 | Michigan | $38,147 |
| 15 | Missouri | $39,719 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $38,277 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $38,792 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $38,521 |
| 19 | Arizona | $38,203 |
| 20 | Virginia | $38,612 |
| 21 | Colorado | $40,158 |
| 22 | Maine | $36,757 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $37,210 |
| 24 | Indiana | $36,194 |
| 25 | Oregon | $39,817 |
| 26 | Ohio | $36,686 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $44,638 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $38,074 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $36,897 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $36,389 |
| 31 | Nevada | $36,969 |
| 32 | Vermont | $38,009 |
| 33 | Georgia | $36,243 |
| 34 | Alabama | $35,574 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $36,547 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $35,754 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $35,463 |
| 38 | Iowa | $35,738 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $35,641 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $33,491 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $34,772 |
| 42 | Alaska | $35,507 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $34,129 |
| 44 | Utah | $33,814 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $34,083 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $33,389 |
| 47 | Kansas | $33,036 |
| 48 | Idaho | $32,975 |
| 49 | Montana | $32,749 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $31,838 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $29,232 |
Expert opinions on the best states for tradesmen
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for tradesmans to find work opportunities?
Kate Cinnamo
Executive Director, Explore The Trades
Plumbing, HVAC and electrical are essential to every community in the United States, which means these opportunities exist anywhere. With so many tradespeople aging out of the workforce, it's vital to our quality of life that those jobs are replaced. Simply stated, these industries keep the country running. Along with the benefit of taking your technical skills anywhere in the country, the trades offer many opportunities for advancement and career stability!
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Updated January 8, 2025