By Hank Russell
A recent study found that there are good-paying jobs in New York State if you want to be a plumber, electrician or carpenter.
Construction Coverage found that New York offers the 10th-highest pay in the nation for plumbers, offering a median annual salary of $72,901. That pays above the national median salary of $62,970. (These salaries have been adjusted for cost of living.) Actual wages in New York are higher, at $78,460.
What makes these salaries attractive is that plumber is one of the most in-demand trade occupations in the nation, behind electricians, roofers and all construction trades. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), plumbing jobs are projected to grow about 50% faster than the average across all occupations nationwide.
“Plumbing may not be considered a high-profile career, but it remains essential,” said the study’s author, Jonathan Jones. “Plumbers are needed for new construction, routine maintenance, and emergency repairs—services that are always in demand. At the same time, the industry is facing a labor shortage as older plumbers retire and fewer younger workers enter the field.”
When it comes to electricians’ pay, New York’s is 15th nationwide, but it still pays almost as well as for a plumber. According to Construction Coverage, the median salary for electricians (adjusted for cost of living) is $71,971 (the actual salary is $77,460). It is higher than the U.S. adjusted median salary of $62,350. Next to plumbers, electricians are the highest-paid trade occupation.
According to the BLS, job opportunities for electricians are projected to grow at a pace that’s three times faster than the national average in the coming decade. Electrician employment is expected to rise by 9.5% from 2024 to 2034, far exceeding the 3.1% growth rate projected for all U.S. jobs.
Jones attributes the growing demand to “the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and energy-intensive data centers” which is “placing new strain on an aging power grid that was not built for such high and fluctuating loads. … However, as the nation increasingly embraces electrification, a crucial challenge has emerged: the existing workforce of electricians may not be sufficient to meet the rising demand.”
Although there is a demand for carpenters, the pay is not as high as that of a plumber or an electrician. In fact, New York ranks 24th in salary at $59,149 when adjusted for cost of living, according to Construction Coverage. That is slightly less than the national adjusted salary of $59,310. The actual salary in New York (before adjustments) is $63,660.
Despite the lower pay, it rivals — and often beats — white-collar jobs that don’t require a four-year degree. It also pays better than all construction trades, roofers and painters. Further, carpenters are expected to see a 4.5% increase in demand from 2024 to 2034. However, Jones said, there could be impediments to growth.
“Carpenters, by contrast, are more vulnerable to economic slowdowns,” Jones said. “Their work is closely tied to new construction and remodeling activity—segments that are often delayed or scaled back during periods of rising interest rates or broader economic uncertainty. While the long-term outlook remains positive, carpenter employment tends to be more cyclical and sensitive to shifts in the housing market.”