What do skilled trades pay in Michigan in 2026?

Which trade is best in Michigan?

Different trades win on different measures — here's the top on each. Pick the one that matters to you.

Across 30 trades: $46,380–$106,890 (median $62,185).

Trades ranked by pay in Michigan

Where is the union premium biggest in Michigan?

Named locals and the premium over the BLS all-worker median.

Union data is partial for Michigan (1 of 30 trades) — submitting your pay helps build complete data for Michigan.

Union landscape in Michigan

Michigan has deep union roots in the trades, and that history shows up in the paychecks. The IBEW and UA both maintain a significant presence across the state — from the Detroit metro out into the industrial corridors of Flint, Grand Rapids, and the Upper Peninsula. On the electrical side, IBEW Local 58 in Detroit sets a journeyman scale that runs $15,250 above the statewide BLS average for electricians. That gap is not an anomaly — it reflects the real-world difference between a negotiated collective bargaining agreement and the blended average that BLS captures across all employment types, union and non-union alike. The trades where IBEW and UA density tends to be highest — electricians, pipefitters, plumbers, and HVAC mechanics — are also trades where the union/non-union wage split is most pronounced. Boilermakers, Millwrights, and Elevator Installers similarly operate under strong union agreements through their respective internationals, which helps explain why those occupations cluster near the top of Michigan's pay rankings. If you are comparing a union offer to a non-union shop, the BLS figure gives you a market floor, not a ceiling. The Local 58 premium is the only specific union-scale data point TradesPays has verified for Michigan at this time. For other locals and trades, check directly with the relevant international or district council for current CBA rates.

Cost-of-living context

Every dollar figure on this page is a nominal BLS wage — meaning it has not been adjusted for what that dollar actually buys in Michigan. That matters, and it is worth being straight about. Michigan is generally considered a lower-cost state compared to the coasts, and that can make a $89,000 Millwright wage stretch further here than the same number would in a high-cost metro elsewhere. But TradesPays does not publish cost-of-living indices, and we are not going to invent one. What we can tell you is that nominal wages across states are not apples-to-apples comparisons. A trade that pays more in another state may not leave you with more money at the end of the month once housing, taxes, and basic expenses are factored in. Within Michigan itself, costs vary considerably between Detroit and a rural UP county. The BLS figures here are statewide averages that flatten that variation. A journeyman electrician working union in Detroit is living in a different cost environment than the same credential holder working downstate in a smaller market — and their gross pay may differ too, even within the same trade. Use these numbers as a benchmark and a starting point for negotiation, not as a final answer. When you are evaluating an offer, stack the wage against local housing costs, commute, and whether the position carries benefits and pension contributions — especially on union jobs, where total compensation often runs well above the hourly rate alone.

Trades in Michigan: FAQ

How many skilled trades does TradesPays track in Michigan?

30 trades, all sourced from BLS OEWS May 2025 state-level data. The list covers construction, industrial, and utility trades. We do not have complete data for every niche occupation, so if your trade is missing, check back — coverage expands as BLS releases new estimates.

What is the highest-paying skilled trade in Michigan?

Power-Line Worker, at a statewide average of $106,890 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025). Elevator Installers are close behind at $99,140. Both trades require significant apprenticeship hours and carry real physical and safety demands — the pay reflects that.

What is the lowest-paying trade tracked in Michigan?

Hazardous Materials Removal Workers average $46,380 statewide. It is a licensed trade with genuine hazard exposure. The wage gap between the top and bottom of Michigan's trades list is roughly $60,000 — choosing your trade and your path within it matters.

How much more do union electricians make in Michigan?

IBEW Local 58 (Detroit) journeyman scale runs $15,250 above the statewide BLS average for electricians. TradesPays has verified this figure for Local 58 specifically. Premiums for other locals and other trades will vary — contact the relevant local union for current CBA rates.

Does TradesPays break out apprentice, journeyman, and master pay in Michigan?

Not for most trades. BLS OEWS figures are full-occupation averages that blend all experience levels and employment types. The only trade-level union scale we have confirmed for Michigan is the IBEW Local 58 journeyman premium. For apprentice progression rates, contact the apprenticeship program directly.

Are these Michigan wages adjusted for cost of living?

No. Every figure here is a nominal BLS dollar — no cost-of-living adjustment applied. Michigan's overall cost environment differs from high-cost states, which can affect real purchasing power, but TradesPays does not publish COL-adjusted figures. Use the nominal numbers as a negotiation baseline and factor local costs in separately.

Does TradesPays have city-level or metro-level pay data for Michigan?

Not currently. All figures are statewide averages from BLS OEWS. Detroit, Grand Rapids, and rural Michigan markets can vary meaningfully from the state mean, but we do not have verified metro breakdowns to publish at this time. We will add sub-state data when we can stand behind the numbers.

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