Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$39.04/hr ($81,210/yr) · typical $29.53 to $49.79
Openings: 950/yrApprentices: 222
Wisconsin trade pay
Wisconsin trade pay runs from $19.82/hr for landscapers to $39.04/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers earn the most at $39.04/hr ($81,210/yr). The state expects about 14,710 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 731 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$39.04/hr
Plumbers
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
14,710
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
731
FY2024
State signals
What stands out in Wisconsin
Plumbers earn 27% more in Wisconsin than the national median of $30.67/hr, the biggest pay premium of the 10 trades with published state pay.
Maintenance workers lead Wisconsin hiring demand with about 3,210 openings a year, 22% of the 14,710 annual trade openings projected statewide.
Wisconsin ranks #42 nationally for active electricians apprentices, with 283 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in Wisconsin
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Electricians
$36.80/hr ($76,540/yr) · typical $26.84 to $45.09
Openings: 1,470/yrApprentices: 283
HVAC Technicians
$29.67/hr ($61,710/yr) · typical $24.44 to $38.03
Openings: 640/yrApprentices: 28
Carpenters
$29.65/hr ($61,660/yr) · typical $23.92 to $38.13
Openings: 1,640/yrApprentices: 106
Roofers
$28.54/hr ($59,370/yr) · typical $23.01 to $31.41
Openings: 200/yrApprentices: 38
Welders
$28.08/hr ($58,410/yr) · typical $24.19 to $29.92
Openings: 1,860/yrApprentices: 3
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$26.83/hr ($55,810/yr) · typical $21.92 to $30.73
Openings: 3,210/yrApprentices: 3
Automotive Service Technicians
$26.13/hr ($54,350/yr) · typical $21.42 to $33.45
Openings: 1,150/yrApprentices: 30
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$24.08/hr ($50,090/yr) · typical $22.42 to $28.89
Openings: 410/yrApprentices: 8
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$19.82/hr ($41,230/yr) · typical $17.35 to $22.81
Openings: 3,180/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 Wisconsin
731 active apprentices across all 10 trades, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Electricians283
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters222
Carpenters106
Roofers38
Automotive Service Technicians30
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
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Wisconsin trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in Wisconsin?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in Wisconsin ranges from $19.82/hr for landscapers to $39.04/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers top the ranking at $39.04/hr, equal to $81,210/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in Wisconsin?
Plumbers lead Wisconsin at a median $39.04/hr ($81,210/yr a year), ahead of electricians at $36.80/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 Wisconsin?
Projections Central expects about 14,710 trade openings a year in Wisconsin from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Maintenance workers lead with about 3,210 a year, followed by landscapers at 3,180. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in Wisconsin?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 731 active trade apprentices in Wisconsin in FY2024, including 283 electricians. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which Wisconsin cities pay trades workers the most?
None of the 25 tracked metros are in Wisconsin, so city-level pay rankings are not published here. The statewide medians above blend every metro and rural area in Wisconsin together into one statewide figure. Metro pay pages cover 18 states; Wisconsin figures are statewide only.