TradesPays
Data reports
Original analyses built from the data we already have: real BLS wages, published union scales, and the workers who send us their pay. Every figure traces to a source with a date. Where the data stops, we say so.
Welder pay · June 2026
How much do welders make by US metro?
The #1 metro is Baton Rouge at $78,170 median, not the coasts. Welder pay ranked across all 50 major metros, with the cost-of-living limit stated plainly.
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Electrician pay · June 2026
How much do electricians make by US metro?
$102,350 median in Chicago, up to $105,090 in Portland, OR. Electrician pay ranked across all 50 major metros, with the cost-of-living limit stated plainly.
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Plumber pay · June 2026
How much do plumbers make by US metro?
$78,610 median in New York, up to $107,560 in San Jose, CA. Plumber pay ranked across all 50 major metros, with the cost-of-living limit stated plainly.
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Metro pay · June 2026
The highest-paying US metros for skilled trades
San Jose, CA leads at $82,050 median, but it isn't only the expensive coasts. 50 metros ranked from 1,302 real BLS wage figures, with the cost-of-living limit stated plainly.
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Union pay · June 2026
Union scale vs the prevailing wage
Where we have a real union scale, it runs +8.2% to +79.9% over the BLS median for electricians and plumbers. The 10 pairs we can verify, with the limits stated plainly.
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