Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$32.73/hr ($68,080/yr) · typical $27.83 to $44.15
Openings: 1,310/yrApprentices: 1,993
Pennsylvania trade pay
Pennsylvania trade pay runs from $18.99/hr for landscapers to $32.73/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers earn the most at $32.73/hr ($68,080/yr). The state expects about 26,330 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 8,257 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$32.73/hr
Plumbers
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
26,330
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
8,257
FY2024
Tracked metros
1
Philadelphia
State signals
What stands out in Pennsylvania
Electricians earn 7% more in Pennsylvania than the national median of $30.38/hr, the biggest pay premium of the 10 trades with published state pay.
Maintenance workers lead Pennsylvania hiring demand with about 6,460 openings a year, 25% of the 26,330 annual trade openings projected statewide.
Pennsylvania ranks #11 nationally for active electricians apprentices, with 2,697 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in Pennsylvania
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Electricians
$32.50/hr ($67,600/yr) · typical $26.51 to $45.92
Openings: 2,320/yrApprentices: 2,697
HVAC Technicians
$30.00/hr ($62,400/yr) · typical $24.44 to $35.88
Openings: 1,640/yrApprentices: 505
Carpenters
$28.54/hr ($59,370/yr) · typical $23.01 to $35.92
Openings: 3,030/yrApprentices: 2,058
Roofers
$26.79/hr ($55,710/yr) · typical $22.75 to $29.98
Openings: 320/yrApprentices: 308
Welders
$25.43/hr ($52,900/yr) · typical $22.71 to $29.77
Openings: 1,800/yrApprentices: 118
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$25.06/hr ($52,120/yr) · typical $22.89 to $29.33
Openings: 740/yrApprentices: 248
Automotive Service Technicians
$23.94/hr ($49,800/yr) · typical $19.24 to $30.18
Openings: 2,910/yrApprentices: 89
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$23.70/hr ($49,290/yr) · typical $19.99 to $29.70
Openings: 6,460/yrApprentices: 238
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$18.99/hr ($39,500/yr) · typical $17.26 to $22.40
Openings: 5,800/yrApprentices: 3
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
Pennsylvania metros with trade pay pages
City-level BLS pay with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates.
- PhiladelphiaTrade pay in Philadelphia
Apprenticeship pipeline
Registered apprentices in Pennsylvania
8,257 active apprentices across all 10 trades, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Electricians2,697
Carpenters2,058
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters1,993
HVAC Technicians505
Roofers308
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
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Pennsylvania trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in Pennsylvania?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in Pennsylvania ranges from $18.99/hr for landscapers to $32.73/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers top the ranking at $32.73/hr, equal to $68,080/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in Pennsylvania?
Plumbers lead Pennsylvania at a median $32.73/hr ($68,080/yr a year), ahead of electricians at $32.50/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 Pennsylvania?
Projections Central expects about 26,330 trade openings a year in Pennsylvania from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Maintenance workers lead with about 6,460 a year, followed by landscapers at 5,800. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in Pennsylvania?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 8,257 active trade apprentices in Pennsylvania in FY2024, including 2,697 electricians. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which Pennsylvania cities pay trades workers the most?
Of the tracked metros in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia pays plumbers the most at $35.99/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.