Electricians
$30.24/hr ($62,900/yr) · typical $23.76 to $37.59
Openings: 2,560/yrApprentices: 3,754
Virginia trade pay
Virginia trade pay runs from $18.46/hr for landscapers to $30.24/hr for electricians, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Electricians earn the most at $30.24/hr ($62,900/yr). The state expects about 19,050 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 6,426 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$30.24/hr
Electricians
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
19,050
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
6,426
FY2024
State signals
What stands out in Virginia
Auto technicians earn 17% more in Virginia than the national median of $24.34/hr, the biggest pay premium of the 10 trades with published state pay.
Landscapers lead Virginia hiring demand with about 4,280 openings a year, 22% of the 19,050 annual trade openings projected statewide.
Virginia ranks #7 nationally for active electricians apprentices, with 3,754 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in Virginia
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$29.07/hr ($60,470/yr) · typical $23.72 to $34.51
Openings: 1,160/yrApprentices: 1,147
HVAC Technicians
$28.72/hr ($59,730/yr) · typical $23.03 to $35.31
Openings: 1,410/yrApprentices: 712
Automotive Service Technicians
$28.53/hr ($59,330/yr) · typical $21.67 to $36.80
Openings: 1,930/yrApprentices: 99
Welders
$28.45/hr ($59,180/yr) · typical $23.57 to $31.44
Openings: 1,140/yrApprentices: 196
Carpenters
$26.77/hr ($55,690/yr) · typical $22.34 to $29.49
Openings: 2,280/yrApprentices: 120
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$23.79/hr ($49,470/yr) · typical $19.01 to $29.80
Openings: 3,300/yrApprentices: 298
Roofers
$23.28/hr ($48,420/yr) · typical $22.00 to $27.69
Openings: 230/yrApprentices: 2
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$22.82/hr ($47,470/yr) · typical $18.89 to $27.03
Openings: 760/yrApprentices: 88
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$18.46/hr ($38,410/yr) · typical $17.10 to $21.46
Openings: 4,280/yrApprentices: 10
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 Virginia
6,426 active apprentices across all 10 trades, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Electricians3,754
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters1,147
HVAC Technicians712
Maintenance & Repair Workers298
Welders196
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
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Virginia trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in Virginia?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in Virginia ranges from $18.46/hr for landscapers to $30.24/hr for electricians, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Electricians top the ranking at $30.24/hr, equal to $62,900/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in Virginia?
Electricians lead Virginia at a median $30.24/hr ($62,900/yr a year), ahead of plumbers at $29.07/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 Virginia?
Projections Central expects about 19,050 trade openings a year in Virginia from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Landscapers lead with about 4,280 a year, followed by maintenance workers at 3,300. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in Virginia?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 6,426 active trade apprentices in Virginia in FY2024, including 3,754 electricians. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which Virginia cities pay trades workers the most?
None of the 25 tracked metros are in Virginia, so city-level pay rankings are not published here. The statewide medians above blend every metro and rural area in Virginia together into one statewide figure. Metro pay pages cover 18 states; Virginia figures are statewide only.