Electricians
$36.62/hr ($76,160/yr) · typical $28.50 to $49.52
Openings: 8,650/yrApprentices: 7,415
California trade pay
California trade pay runs from $21.90/hr for landscapers to $36.62/hr for electricians, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Electricians earn the most at $36.62/hr ($76,160/yr). The state expects about 78,110 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 26,956 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$36.62/hr
Electricians
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
78,110
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
26,956
FY2024
Tracked metros
4
Los Angeles, San Francisco
State signals
What stands out in California
Auto technicians earn 28% more in California than the national median of $24.34/hr, the biggest pay premium of the 10 trades with published state pay.
Landscapers lead California hiring demand with about 18,200 openings a year, 23% of the 78,110 annual trade openings projected statewide.
California ranks #1 nationally for active carpenters apprentices, with 9,048 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in California
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Carpenters
$36.50/hr ($75,920/yr) · typical $28.72 to $46.07
Openings: 11,040/yrApprentices: 9,048
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$35.01/hr ($72,830/yr) · typical $28.36 to $48.17
Openings: 4,870/yrApprentices: 4,506
HVAC Technicians
$34.88/hr ($72,560/yr) · typical $28.02 to $43.65
Openings: 3,770/yrApprentices: 1,448
Automotive Service Technicians
$31.24/hr ($64,980/yr) · typical $22.39 to $37.05
Openings: 6,600/yrApprentices: 470
Roofers
$30.58/hr ($63,600/yr) · typical $28.57 to $36.27
Openings: 2,050/yrApprentices: 2,350
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$28.38/hr ($59,020/yr) · typical $22.85 to $35.11
Openings: 4,890/yrApprentices: 1,434
Welders
$27.91/hr ($58,060/yr) · typical $23.31 to $33.85
Openings: 2,890/yrApprentices: 34
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$27.41/hr ($57,000/yr) · typical $22.28 to $34.24
Openings: 15,150/yrApprentices: 127
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$21.90/hr ($45,560/yr) · typical $18.47 to $24.27
Openings: 18,200/yrApprentices: 124
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025. Openings: Projections Central, 2024-2034 average annual openings. Apprentices: DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024 active apprentices; trades the DOL did not publish show n/a.
Metro pay pages
California metros with trade pay pages
City-level BLS pay with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates.
- Los AngelesTrade pay in Los Angeles
- San FranciscoTrade pay in San Francisco
- San DiegoTrade pay in San Diego
- SacramentoTrade pay in Sacramento
Apprenticeship pipeline
Registered apprentices in California
26,956 active apprentices across all 10 trades, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Carpenters9,048
Electricians7,415
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters4,506
Roofers2,350
HVAC Technicians1,448
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
The Paycheck
Get the weekly pay email
One email a week: the biggest pay moves, new data drops, and one featured metro. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
California trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in California?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in California ranges from $21.90/hr for landscapers to $36.62/hr for electricians, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Electricians top the ranking at $36.62/hr, equal to $76,160/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in California?
Electricians lead California at a median $36.62/hr ($76,160/yr a year), ahead of carpenters at $36.50/hr. The full ranking below covers all 10 tracked trades from BLS OEWS May 2025 statewide data. Union scale, shift differentials, and overtime can push actual take-home above these medians.
How many trade job openings are there in California?
Projections Central expects about 78,110 trade openings a year in California from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Landscapers lead with about 18,200 a year, followed by maintenance workers at 15,150. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in California?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 26,956 active trade apprentices in California in FY2024, including 9,048 carpenters. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which California cities pay trades workers the most?
Of the tracked metros in California, Los Angeles pays carpenters the most at $36.41/hr. Each metro pay page breaks down all 10 trades with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates. Statewide medians above blend every metro and rural area together into one statewide figure.