Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$45.14/hr ($93,880/yr) · typical $29.74 to $52.13
Openings: 1,500/yrApprentices: 173
Massachusetts trade pay
Massachusetts trade pay runs from $23.40/hr for landscapers to $45.14/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers earn the most at $45.14/hr ($93,880/yr). The state expects about 14,830 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 1,212 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$45.14/hr
Plumbers
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
14,830
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
1,212
FY2024, published trades
Tracked metros
1
Boston
State signals
What stands out in Massachusetts
Plumbers earn 47% more in Massachusetts than the national median of $30.67/hr, the biggest pay premium of the 10 trades with published state pay.
Landscapers lead Massachusetts hiring demand with about 3,400 openings a year, 23% of the 14,830 annual trade openings projected statewide.
Massachusetts ranks #11 nationally for active carpenters apprentices, with 768 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in Massachusetts
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Electricians
$38.18/hr ($79,420/yr) · typical $27.82 to $48.31
Openings: 1,790/yrApprentices: 162
HVAC Technicians
$37.16/hr ($77,300/yr) · typical $29.36 to $45.71
Openings: 800/yrApprentices: 76
Carpenters
$36.16/hr ($75,200/yr) · typical $29.21 to $46.88
Openings: 2,050/yrApprentices: 768
Roofers
$34.98/hr ($72,750/yr) · typical $28.78 to $39.95
Openings: 210/yrApprentices: 7
Welders
$30.08/hr ($62,570/yr) · typical $25.81 to $35.60
Openings: 330/yrApprentices: 8
Automotive Service Technicians
$29.21/hr ($60,760/yr) · typical $21.91 to $37.77
Openings: 1,290/yrApprentices: 1
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$28.04/hr ($58,320/yr) · typical $22.55 to $33.42
Openings: 2,860/yrApprentices: 7
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$27.65/hr ($57,510/yr) · typical $22.51 to $33.68
Openings: 600/yrApprentices: 10
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$23.40/hr ($48,670/yr) · typical $21.82 to $28.13
Openings: 3,400/yrApprentices: n/a
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
Massachusetts metros with trade pay pages
City-level BLS pay with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates.
- BostonTrade pay in Boston
Apprenticeship pipeline
Registered apprentices in Massachusetts
1,212 active apprentices across the 9 trades the DOL published, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Carpenters768
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters173
Electricians162
HVAC Technicians76
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)10
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
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Massachusetts trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in Massachusetts?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in Massachusetts ranges from $23.40/hr for landscapers to $45.14/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers top the ranking at $45.14/hr, equal to $93,880/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in Massachusetts?
Plumbers lead Massachusetts at a median $45.14/hr ($93,880/yr a year), ahead of electricians at $38.18/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 Massachusetts?
Projections Central expects about 14,830 trade openings a year in Massachusetts from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Landscapers lead with about 3,400 a year, followed by maintenance workers at 2,860. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in Massachusetts?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 1,212 active trade apprentices in Massachusetts in FY2024, across 9 published trades, including 768 carpenters. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which Massachusetts cities pay trades workers the most?
Of the tracked metros in Massachusetts, Boston pays plumbers the most at $46.52/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.