America's Trades Wage Gap: 30 Metros Compared
Skilled trades median wages range from $72/hr in Orlando to $132/hr in San Jose — a 1.8× spread that flows straight into renovation quotes.
Published 2026-08-21 · Data from the HomeServiceCost engine (BLS OEWS / BEA RPP derived)
wage gap between the highest (San Jose) and lowest (Orlando) metros in our data
Key Findings
01San Jose trades lead the nation
Median billed labor rates of $132/hr run 50% above the national median of $88/hr — before California material premiums stack on top.
02Sun Belt value persists
Orlando area billed rates of $72/hr sit 18% below national, which is why identical remodel scope consistently quotes 20–35% less than coastal metros.
03Wages explain most of quote variance
Across our 134 calculators, labor makes up 50–80% of project cost, so metro wage differences alone move final quotes more than any material choice.
Median Trades Hourly Wage by Metro (BLS OEWS-derived)
| Metro | Median $/hr | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| San JoseSan Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $132/hr | +50% |
| BostonBoston-Cambridge-Newton | $121/hr | +38% |
| New York CityNew York-Newark-Jersey City | $116/hr | +32% |
| ChicagoChicago-Naperville-Elgin | $110/hr | +25% |
| SeattleSeattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $110/hr | +25% |
| Los AngelesLos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $104/hr | +18% |
| San DiegoSan Diego-Carlsbad | $104/hr | +18% |
| Minneapolis–St. PaulMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $102/hr | +16% |
| PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $96/hr | +9% |
| DenverDenver-Aurora-Lakewood | $94/hr | +7% |
| AustinAustin-Round Rock | $88/hr | — |
| Dallas–Fort WorthDallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $80/hr | -9% |
| PhoenixPhoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale | $80/hr | -9% |
| HoustonHouston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land | $77/hr | -12% |
| AtlantaAtlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $77/hr | -12% |
| Miami–Fort LauderdaleMiami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $77/hr | -12% |
| Las VegasLas Vegas-Henderson-Paradise | $77/hr | -12% |
| NashvilleNashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro | $74/hr | -16% |
| CharlotteCharlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $74/hr | -16% |
| San AntonioSan Antonio-New Braunfels | $72/hr | -18% |
| OrlandoOrlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $72/hr | -18% |
Methodology
- Wage bands are derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data for construction and specialty trades within each metropolitan statistical area.
- The national reference is our engine's national billed-rate band ($60 low / $88 median / $120 high).
- San Jose is included in this ranking from the same OEWS-derived dataset although it does not yet have a city guide page.
Cite This Report
HomeServiceCost (2026). America's Trades Wage Gap: 30 Metros Compared. homeservicecost.com/reports/metro-wage-gap-2026
📊 Data Sources
HomeServiceCost aggregates pricing data from the following publicly available, government-verified, and industry-standard sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — OEWS Survey: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for 15+ construction and home service occupations across all 50 states. Data updated annually. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau — ACS: American Community Survey housing data, median home values, and demographic statistics. census.gov/acs
- Home Depot & Lowe's Pricing: Aggregated material pricing from major home improvement retailers, updated periodically to reflect market trends.
- ZIP Code & Regional Multipliers: Cost-of-living adjustments based on BLS price parity data and regional construction cost indices.
Data is re-baselined when BLS publishes new OEWS figures (annual). Last full update: October 2026. Read our full data methodology.
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