7 Strong Skilled Trades Careers to Pursue in Residential Construction

As market conditions for construction employment stabilize and construction jobs continue to open, now is a great time for students — anyone looking to make a career change — to pursue a construction career.

There are growing opportunities for women in construction, too, with a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau revealing that women’s share of the construction workforce is at a 20-year high.

We’re highlighting a few of the construction trades’ strongest-paying jobs and the skills needed to succeed at them during NAHB’s Associate Member Appreciation Month in September. All statistics are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Boilermakers assemble, install, maintain and repair boilers and other large vessels that hold liquids and gases. The median pay for a boilermaker in 2025 was $76,410, and the top 25% of earners made at least $95,780. Entry-level positions in this career require a high school diploma or something equivalent.
• Carpenters construct, repair and install building frameworks. The median pay for a carpenter in 2025 was $60,580, and the top 25% of earners made at least $77,390. Entry-level positions in this career require a high school diploma or something equivalent.
• Drywall and ceiling tile installers hang wallboard and install tiles inside buildings. The median pay for a drywall and ceiling tile installer in 2025 was $59,780, and the top 25% of earners made at least $74,670. No formal educational credentials are required for this career.
• Electricians install, maintain and repair electrical power and control systems. The median pay for an electrician in 2025 was $63, 190, and the top 25% of earners made at least $80,850. Entry-level positions in this career require a high school diploma or something equivalent.
• Masonry workers use brick, concrete and other stones to build structures. The median pay for a masonry worker in 2025 was $58,270, and the top 25% of brickmason and stonemason earners make at least $79,630. A high school diploma or something equivalent is typically required for this career along with an apprenticeship or previous experience. Learn more.
• Painters apply paint and other coatings to walls, ceilings, buildings and other structures. The median pay for a painter in 2025 was $49,400. No formal educational is required for this career.
• Plumbers install and repair piping systems. The median pay for a plumber in 2025 was $63,800, and the top 25% of earners make at least $83,360. Entry-level education for this career is a high school diploma or something equivalent.

View more of the highest-paid construction occupations in this deep dive on Eye on Housing from NAHB’s AVP of Housing Policy Research Natalia Siniavskaia.

Learn more when NAHB celebrates its Careers in Construction Month in October.