HVAC Technicians
$27.53/hr ($57,260/yr) · typical $22.52 to $30.92
Openings: 1,400/yrApprentices: 22
North Carolina trade pay
North Carolina trade pay runs from $18.22/hr for landscapers to $27.53/hr for HVAC technicians, per BLS OEWS May 2025. HVAC technicians earn the most at $27.53/hr ($57,260/yr). The state expects about 22,150 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 439 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$27.53/hr
HVAC technicians
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
22,150
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
439
FY2024, published trades
Tracked metros
1
Charlotte
State signals
What stands out in North Carolina
Every tracked trade pays below its national median in North Carolina; landscapers come closest, at 3% below the national $18.82/hr.
Landscapers lead North Carolina hiring demand with about 5,640 openings a year, 25% of the 22,150 annual trade openings projected statewide.
North Carolina ranks #45 nationally for active electricians apprentices, with 164 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in North Carolina
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$27.44/hr ($57,080/yr) · typical $22.38 to $30.43
Openings: 1,390/yrApprentices: 57
Electricians
$27.31/hr ($56,800/yr) · typical $22.63 to $29.77
Openings: 2,590/yrApprentices: 164
Welders
$24.32/hr ($50,590/yr) · typical $21.83 to $29.26
Openings: 1,370/yrApprentices: 4
Carpenters
$23.61/hr ($49,100/yr) · typical $20.27 to $28.27
Openings: 1,430/yrApprentices: 60
Roofers
$23.56/hr ($49,010/yr) · typical $21.61 to $27.18
Openings: 320/yrApprentices: 18
Automotive Service Technicians
$23.17/hr ($48,200/yr) · typical $17.60 to $30.37
Openings: 2,670/yrApprentices: 95
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$23.03/hr ($47,910/yr) · typical $18.74 to $28.63
Openings: 4,790/yrApprentices: 16
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$21.21/hr ($44,110/yr) · typical $17.83 to $23.63
Openings: 550/yrApprentices: 3
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$18.22/hr ($37,910/yr) · typical $17.23 to $21.40
Openings: 5,640/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
North Carolina metros with trade pay pages
City-level BLS pay with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates.
- CharlotteTrade pay in Charlotte
Apprenticeship pipeline
Registered apprentices in North Carolina
439 active apprentices across the 9 trades the DOL published, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Electricians164
Automotive Service Technicians95
Carpenters60
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters57
HVAC Technicians22
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
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North Carolina trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in North Carolina?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in North Carolina ranges from $18.22/hr for landscapers to $27.53/hr for HVAC technicians, per BLS OEWS May 2025. HVAC technicians top the ranking at $27.53/hr, equal to $57,260/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in North Carolina?
HVAC technicians lead North Carolina at a median $27.53/hr ($57,260/yr a year), ahead of plumbers at $27.44/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 North Carolina?
Projections Central expects about 22,150 trade openings a year in North Carolina from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Landscapers lead with about 5,640 a year, followed by maintenance workers at 4,790. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in North Carolina?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 439 active trade apprentices in North Carolina in FY2024, across 9 published trades, including 164 electricians. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which North Carolina cities pay trades workers the most?
Of the tracked metros in North Carolina, Charlotte pays HVAC technicians the most at $28.77/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.