Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$37.61/hr ($78,240/yr) · typical $29.72 to $51.36
Openings: 980/yrApprentices: 1,188
New Jersey trade pay
New Jersey trade pay runs from $19.88/hr for landscapers to $37.61/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers earn the most at $37.61/hr ($78,240/yr). The state expects about 16,300 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 5,337 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$37.61/hr
Plumbers
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
16,300
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
5,337
FY2024
State signals
What stands out in New Jersey
Roofers earn 38% more in New Jersey than the national median of $26.65/hr, the biggest pay premium of the 10 trades with published state pay.
Landscapers lead New Jersey hiring demand with about 4,730 openings a year, 29% of the 16,300 annual trade openings projected statewide.
New Jersey ranks #18 nationally for active electricians apprentices, with 1,773 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in New Jersey
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Electricians
$37.14/hr ($77,250/yr) · typical $30.00 to $58.23
Openings: 1,710/yrApprentices: 1,773
Roofers
$36.83/hr ($76,600/yr) · typical $23.88 to $47.96
Openings: 180/yrApprentices: 215
HVAC Technicians
$35.79/hr ($74,450/yr) · typical $27.26 to $46.59
Openings: 1,090/yrApprentices: 711
Carpenters
$30.77/hr ($64,010/yr) · typical $24.63 to $38.67
Openings: 1,370/yrApprentices: 1,115
Welders
$28.58/hr ($59,440/yr) · typical $23.98 to $34.17
Openings: 360/yrApprentices: 21
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$28.49/hr ($59,250/yr) · typical $21.87 to $34.80
Openings: 550/yrApprentices: 167
Automotive Service Technicians
$27.22/hr ($56,610/yr) · typical $19.25 to $36.25
Openings: 1,740/yrApprentices: 59
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$26.35/hr ($54,810/yr) · typical $21.93 to $32.07
Openings: 3,590/yrApprentices: 76
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$19.88/hr ($41,360/yr) · typical $17.78 to $22.75
Openings: 4,730/yrApprentices: 12
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.
Apprenticeship pipeline
Registered apprentices in New Jersey
5,337 active apprentices across all 10 trades, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Electricians1,773
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters1,188
Carpenters1,115
HVAC Technicians711
Roofers215
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
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New Jersey trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in New Jersey?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in New Jersey ranges from $19.88/hr for landscapers to $37.61/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers top the ranking at $37.61/hr, equal to $78,240/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in New Jersey?
Plumbers lead New Jersey at a median $37.61/hr ($78,240/yr a year), ahead of electricians at $37.14/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 New Jersey?
Projections Central expects about 16,300 trade openings a year in New Jersey from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Landscapers lead with about 4,730 a year, followed by maintenance workers at 3,590. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in New Jersey?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 5,337 active trade apprentices in New Jersey in FY2024, including 1,773 electricians. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which New Jersey cities pay trades workers the most?
None of the 25 tracked metros are in New Jersey, so city-level pay rankings are not published here. The statewide medians above blend every metro and rural area in New Jersey together into one statewide figure. Metro pay pages cover 18 states; New Jersey figures are statewide only.