What do skilled trades pay in Arizona in 2026?
Median pay for 29 skilled trades in Arizona (BLS OEWS May 2025).
In 2026, the highest-paying skilled trades in Arizona are Insulation Worker (~$80,410) and Boilermaker (~$77,940), across 29 trades tracked (BLS OEWS May 2025). Last updated June 2026.
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Different trades win on different measures — here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.
Highest median pay
Insulation Worker
$80,410
Most jobs
Construction Laborer
37,630 jobs
Across 29 trades: $44,740–$80,410 (median $58,230).
Arizona has 29 skilled trades tracked on TradesPays, and the spread between the top and bottom earners tells you something important before you pick a path. Insulation Workers lead the state at $80,410, followed by Boilermakers at $77,940, Power-Line Workers at $75,420, Industrial Machinery Mechanics at $74,790, and Pipelayers at $62,740. At the other end, Floor Layers come in at $44,740. Every figure here is straight from BLS OEWS May 2025 — state-level annual mean wages. No adjustments, no projections, no metro breakdowns. What you see is the statewide average for each trade. Use these numbers as a floor for your research, not a ceiling for your expectations. If your trade isn't in the top five, scroll the full list — 29 trades means there's a lot of ground between the headline numbers and the lowest figure on the board.
Trades ranked by pay in Arizona
| # | Trade | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Insulation Worker | $80,410 |
| 2 | Boilermaker | $77,940 |
| 3 | Power-Line Worker | $75,420 |
| 4 | Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $74,790 |
| 5 | Pipelayer | $62,740 |
| 6 | Plumber | $62,070 |
| 7 | Electrician | $61,060 |
| 8 | Construction Equipment Operator | $60,620 |
| 9 | HVAC Technician | $59,400 |
| 10 | Ironworker | $59,390 |
See all 29
| 11 | Brickmason | $59,260 |
| 12 | Cement Mason | $58,910 |
| 13 | Telecom Line Installer | $58,600 |
| 14 | Carpenter | $58,580 |
| 15 | Rebar Worker | $58,230 |
| 16 | Millwright | $57,380 |
| 17 | Glazier | $56,560 |
| 18 | Taper | $56,300 |
| 19 | Welder | $55,600 |
| 20 | Tile & Stone Setter | $52,000 |
| 21 | Solar Installer | $51,160 |
| 22 | Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $50,530 |
| 23 | Drywall Installer | $50,290 |
| 24 | Sheet Metal Worker | $50,260 |
| 25 | Plasterer | $49,510 |
| 26 | Painter | $48,250 |
| 27 | Roofer | $47,340 |
| 28 | Construction Laborer | $46,590 |
| 29 | Floor Layer | $44,740 |
Where is the union premium biggest in Arizona?
Named locals and the premium over the BLS all-worker median.
We don't have union scale data for Arizona across our trades yet — these trades are predominantly non-union, or we haven't added IBEW/UA data. Submitting your pay helps build complete data for Arizona.
Union landscape in Arizona
Arizona is a right-to-work state, which means union membership is a choice, not a condition of employment in any trade. Whether a given job site or employer operates under a collective bargaining agreement depends on the contractor, the project type, and the specific trade — it is not a given either way. TradesPays does not have union scale data for Arizona in our current dataset. That's a straight-up gap, and we'd rather tell you that plainly than guess at it. What we can say is this: some workers in the state are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and those agreements set their own wage scales, benefit contributions, and working conditions that are separate from the BLS figures you see on this page. If you're working a union job or considering one, the only reliable source for current scale rates is your local. Contact them directly — they can give you the actual package breakdown, including any annuity, health, or pension contributions that don't show up in a base-wage figure. The BLS numbers here reflect a blend of union and non-union workers, so they shouldn't be used as a proxy for either one in isolation.
Cost-of-living context
The wages on this page are nominal BLS dollars — meaning they have not been adjusted for what it actually costs to live and work in Arizona. A dollar figure that looks strong compared to another state may not go as far once you account for housing, transportation, and other day-to-day costs, and TradesPays does not apply any cost-of-living index to these numbers. We don't have one baked in, and we're not going to invent one. What's worth knowing is that Arizona's population growth — particularly in the Phoenix metro and surrounding areas — has pushed housing costs significantly higher over the past several years. A wage that felt comfortable for a tradesperson a decade ago buys a different lifestyle today, especially if you're renting or buying in a high-demand corridor. That context matters when you're weighing a job offer, deciding whether to take a call in a different city, or comparing what you'd earn if you moved to or from Arizona. The $80,410 mean for Insulation Workers and the $44,740 for Floor Layers are real numbers — but what they translate to in terms of actual purchasing power depends on where in the state you're working and living. Use these figures as a starting point for your own math, not as a finished answer.
Trades in Arizona: FAQ
- Which skilled trade pays the most in Arizona?
- Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data, Insulation Workers have the highest mean annual wage in Arizona at $80,410 among the 29 trades TradesPays tracks for the state.
- What is the lowest-paying skilled trade tracked in Arizona?
- Floor Layers come in at the bottom of the 29 trades tracked, with a mean annual wage of $44,740 according to BLS OEWS May 2025.
- Does TradesPays have city or metro-level wage data for Arizona?
- Not at this time. All figures on this page are statewide annual means from BLS OEWS. Wages in Phoenix, Tucson, or any other metro area may differ from the state average, but TradesPays does not currently break down pay by Arizona metro.
- Are these wages for union or non-union workers?
- The BLS figures reflect a blend of both union and non-union workers across the state. TradesPays does not have separate union scale data for Arizona. If you're on a union job, contact your local for the current collectively bargained rate — it won't necessarily match what you see here.
- How many skilled trades does TradesPays track in Arizona?
- 29 trades. The full list covers a wide range of construction, industrial, and mechanical occupations. Insulation Workers top the list at $80,410 and Floor Layers are at the bottom at $44,740.
- Are apprentice, journeyman, and master-level wages shown separately?
- No. The BLS OEWS data is a statewide mean across experience levels and employer types. TradesPays does not have a breakdown by apprentice, journeyman, or master level for Arizona outside of union scale data, which we don't have for this state.
- When was this Arizona trades pay data last updated?
- All figures come from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release. TradesPays updates state data as new BLS releases become available.
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