Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$32.11/hr ($66,790/yr) · typical $24.35 to $48.19
Openings: 640/yrApprentices: 1,385
Missouri trade pay
Missouri trade pay runs from $18.52/hr for landscapers to $32.11/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers earn the most at $32.11/hr ($66,790/yr). The state expects about 13,920 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 7,935 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$32.11/hr
Plumbers
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
13,920
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
7,935
FY2024
Tracked metros
1
St. Louis
State signals
What stands out in Missouri
Painters earn 16% more in Missouri than the national median of $23.75/hr, the biggest pay premium of the 10 trades with published state pay.
Maintenance workers lead Missouri hiring demand with about 3,330 openings a year, 24% of the 13,920 annual trade openings projected statewide.
Missouri ranks #12 nationally for active electricians apprentices, with 2,549 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in Missouri
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Electricians
$31.45/hr ($65,410/yr) · typical $23.95 to $45.08
Openings: 1,680/yrApprentices: 2,549
Carpenters
$29.25/hr ($60,840/yr) · typical $22.85 to $38.74
Openings: 1,370/yrApprentices: 2,414
HVAC Technicians
$28.82/hr ($59,950/yr) · typical $22.61 to $35.87
Openings: 580/yrApprentices: 420
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$27.65/hr ($57,510/yr) · typical $22.28 to $32.94
Openings: 500/yrApprentices: 382
Welders
$24.98/hr ($51,950/yr) · typical $22.08 to $29.64
Openings: 1,200/yrApprentices: 69
Automotive Service Technicians
$23.63/hr ($49,160/yr) · typical $18.47 to $30.41
Openings: 1,620/yrApprentices: 66
Roofers
$23.35/hr ($48,570/yr) · typical $20.55 to $31.11
Openings: 260/yrApprentices: 497
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$23.26/hr ($48,370/yr) · typical $19.19 to $29.54
Openings: 3,330/yrApprentices: 151
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$18.52/hr ($38,520/yr) · typical $17.22 to $21.78
Openings: 2,740/yrApprentices: 2
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
Missouri metros with trade pay pages
City-level BLS pay with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates.
- St. LouisTrade pay in St. Louis
Apprenticeship pipeline
Registered apprentices in Missouri
7,935 active apprentices across all 10 trades, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Electricians2,549
Carpenters2,414
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters1,385
Roofers497
HVAC Technicians420
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
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Missouri trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in Missouri?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in Missouri ranges from $18.52/hr for landscapers to $32.11/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers top the ranking at $32.11/hr, equal to $66,790/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in Missouri?
Plumbers lead Missouri at a median $32.11/hr ($66,790/yr a year), ahead of electricians at $31.45/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 Missouri?
Projections Central expects about 13,920 trade openings a year in Missouri from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Maintenance workers lead with about 3,330 a year, followed by landscapers at 2,740. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in Missouri?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 7,935 active trade apprentices in Missouri in FY2024, including 2,549 electricians. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which Missouri cities pay trades workers the most?
Of the tracked metros in Missouri, St. Louis pays electricians the most at $37.10/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.