Highest Paying Trades in St. Louis
2025 salary data · COL Index: 90
50
Trades Tracked
$58,002
Avg Median Salary
90
COL Index
64
Avg Trade Pay Score
Trade Salaries in St. Louis
| Trade | Category | Median | Range (10th-90th) | Grade | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Manager | Management | $110,487 | $68,950 – $163,647 | B | 3,631 |
| Elevator Mechanic | Specialty | $94,596 | $56,639 – $139,462 | A | 3,619 |
| Electrical Power-Line Tech | Electrical | $86,526 | $54,698 – $131,991 | A | 6,712 |
| Power Line Installer | Electrical | $83,941 | $54,035 – $119,812 | A | 5,558 |
| Underwater Welder | Welding | $80,859 | $48,063 – $123,271 | B | 2,598 |
| Building Inspector | Management | $67,571 | $42,382 – $104,801 | C | 2,514 |
| Wind Turbine Technician | Energy | $66,621 | $41,984 – $98,223 | A | 7,124 |
| Fire Sprinkler Fitter | Plumbing | $66,247 | $39,154 – $96,181 | B | 4,366 |
| Aircraft Mechanic | Automotive | $65,997 | $42,378 – $98,412 | C | 3,181 |
| Pile Driver Operator | Heavy Equipment | $65,942 | $42,858 – $102,388 | C | 3,786 |
| Pipefitter | Plumbing | $65,530 | $39,350 – $94,985 | B | 5,446 |
| Boilermaker | Industrial | $63,153 | $37,916 – $96,161 | C | 2,719 |
| Industrial Electrician | Electrical | $61,997 | $36,897 – $87,409 | B | 5,374 |
| Plumber | Plumbing | $61,956 | $40,205 – $88,748 | B | 4,150 |
| Ironworker | Structural | $61,615 | $38,016 – $94,897 | C | 3,896 |
| Steamfitter | Plumbing | $61,044 | $37,808 – $86,962 | C | 3,070 |
| Tool and Die Maker | Metalwork | $60,617 | $38,955 – $86,807 | D | 1,747 |
| Electrician | Electrical | $60,408 | $38,928 – $89,913 | B | 4,110 |
| Crane Operator | Heavy Equipment | $59,978 | $35,591 – $92,953 | B | 4,343 |
| Telecommunications Tech | Electrical | $58,681 | $36,601 – $83,776 | B | 4,619 |
| Millwright | Industrial | $58,631 | $36,139 – $85,256 | C | 2,667 |
| HVAC Technician | HVAC | $57,424 | $34,662 – $80,788 | B | 6,361 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | Industrial | $57,101 | $35,713 – $88,167 | B | 4,043 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Metalwork | $55,958 | $34,835 – $78,690 | C | 3,695 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | Heavy Equipment | $55,785 | $34,532 – $81,290 | C | 4,600 |
| Carpenter | Construction | $53,841 | $33,293 – $82,108 | C | 3,619 |
| Diesel Mechanic | Automotive | $52,947 | $31,720 – $74,958 | C | 2,642 |
| Drywall Installer | Construction | $52,557 | $31,897 – $80,403 | D | 2,603 |
| Tile Setter | Construction | $52,294 | $33,601 – $76,735 | D | 1,975 |
| Well Driller | Specialty | $52,124 | $33,753 – $74,471 | D | 2,728 |
| Plasterer | Construction | $52,076 | $31,316 – $73,551 | D | 1,598 |
| Environmental Engineering Tech | Specialty | $51,915 | $31,764 – $75,920 | C | 4,328 |
| Refrigeration Mechanic | HVAC | $51,596 | $32,217 – $77,793 | B | 3,985 |
| Welder | Welding | $51,031 | $30,411 – $79,039 | C | 2,801 |
| Mason (Bricklayer) | Construction | $50,573 | $32,373 – $76,907 | D | 2,888 |
| Auto Mechanic | Automotive | $49,864 | $29,887 – $76,247 | D | 1,723 |
| Structural Welder | Welding | $49,408 | $29,757 – $74,163 | C | 3,707 |
| Solar PV Installer | Electrical | $49,002 | $31,047 – $75,829 | B | 7,687 |
| Machinist | Metalwork | $48,863 | $29,588 – $72,871 | C | 3,731 |
| Maintenance Mechanic | Industrial | $48,753 | $31,160 – $70,533 | C | 3,241 |
| Insulation Worker | Construction | $47,805 | $28,996 – $68,752 | C | 2,857 |
| Septic Tank Servicer | Plumbing | $46,724 | $28,723 – $66,691 | D | 1,838 |
| Concrete Finisher | Construction | $46,639 | $29,841 – $70,957 | D | 2,857 |
| Glazier | Construction | $45,847 | $27,943 – $69,011 | D | 3,641 |
| Scaffold Builder | Construction | $44,137 | $28,680 – $68,232 | D | 1,800 |
| Roofer | Construction | $43,605 | $27,829 – $66,530 | D | 2,920 |
| Floor Layer | Construction | $43,256 | $27,008 – $63,861 | D | 1,818 |
| Locksmith | Specialty | $42,679 | $25,308 – $61,928 | D | 1,945 |
| Painter (Construction) | Construction | $42,122 | $26,715 – $62,885 | D | 1,932 |
| CNC Machine Operator | Metalwork | $41,759 | $25,502 – $59,383 | D | 2,869 |
About Trade Pay in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO has a cost-of-living index of 90, which is 10% below the national average. This means trade salaries here need to be may be lower to maintain equivalent purchasing power.
The highest-paying trade in St. Louis is Construction Manager with a median salary of $110,487. Across all 50 trades tracked, the average median salary is $58,002. With below-average living costs, trade workers in St. Louis often enjoy strong purchasing power relative to coastal metro areas.
Compare St. Louis against other metros on the best cities for trade workers ranking, or see the highest paying trades nationally.