To attract and retain workers, many employers are raising wages, providing a favorable outlook for carpenters—with some locations offering more lucrative prospects than others. These are the best-paying states and metros for carpenters.

Demand for electricians will grow nearly 3X faster than the overall job growth rate in the coming years, as more of the nation's energy infrastructure transitions to renewable sources. These are the best-paying U.S. states and metros for electricians.

Nationally, plumbers earn about 30% more than the typical worker—but more localized data shows a highly regional industry. We ranked U.S. states and metros according to the median annual wage for plumbers, adjusted for the cost of living.

Jan. 1, Thursday marked the first day of the 2026 new year, and with that, a new set of laws passed by the Oregon Legislature will take effect.