Traveling Trades Pay & Per-Diem Index
State-level wage medians for 28 traveling trades from BLS OEWS data, plus current GSA per-diem rates – the federal lodging and M&IE ceilings travelers and recruiters plan against. Refreshed monthly.
GSA per-diem rates - FY2026
Standard CONUS rate (applies to most U.S. counties): $110/night lodging + $68/day M&IE = $178/day federal ceiling.
| Trade hub | County | Lodging / night | M&IE / day | Total / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | Montgomery / Fort Bend / Harris | $128 | $80 | $208 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | - | $110 | $68 | $178 |
| Midland, TX | Midland / Andrews / Ector / Martin | $132 | $74 | $206 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | - | $110 | $68 | $178 |
| Lake Charles, LA | Allen / Jefferson Davis / Natchitoches / Rapides / Vernon Parishes | $112 | $68 | $180 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | Allegheny | $138 | $80 | $218 |
| Columbus, OH | Franklin | $131 | $80 | $211 |
| Savannah, GA | Chatham | $176 | $80 | $256 |
| Charlotte, NC | Mecklenburg | $131 | $80 | $211 |
| Greenville, SC | - | $110 | $68 | $178 |
| Knoxville, TN | Knox | $119 | $74 | $193 |
| Phoenix, AZ | Maricopa | $229 | $86 | $315 |
Lodging shows the seasonal maximum. NSA = non-standard area (rates above the CONUS standard). Under the federal rules, M&IE on the first and last travel day is 75% of the full rate.
Trade wages - statewide medians
Hourly medians for all workers in each occupation, statewide (BLS OEWS 2025). Traveling and shutdown contracts frequently pay above the all-workers median, plus per diem.
Boilermakers (SOC 47-2011)
National median: $36.74/hr (about $76,410/yr) · middle half earns $31.13–$45.88/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $43.95 |
| Pennsylvania | $41.75 |
| Ohio | $41.13 |
| Arizona | $37.47 |
| Texas | $36.42 |
| South Carolina | $35.98 |
| Louisiana | $35.57 |
| Florida | $33.55 |
| Georgia | $30.86 |
| West Virginia | $30.70 |
| Tennessee | $24.91 |
| North Carolina | $23.90 |
Carpenters (SOC 47-2031)
National median: $29.12/hr (about $60,580/yr) · middle half earns $23.32–$36.94/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $30.23 |
| Ohio | $29.24 |
| Pennsylvania | $28.54 |
| Arizona | $28.17 |
| Tennessee | $24.44 |
| South Carolina | $24.36 |
| Louisiana | $24.00 |
| Florida | $23.98 |
| Georgia | $23.72 |
| North Carolina | $23.61 |
| Texas | $23.51 |
| West Virginia | $23.42 |
Cement Masons & Concrete Finishers (SOC 47-2051)
National median: $27.41/hr (about $57,020/yr) · middle half earns $22.60–$32.15/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $30.28 |
| Pennsylvania | $29.62 |
| Indiana | $29.46 |
| Arizona | $28.32 |
| West Virginia | $24.98 |
| South Carolina | $23.73 |
| Louisiana | $23.64 |
| Florida | $23.40 |
| Tennessee | $23.04 |
| Texas | $22.84 |
| North Carolina | $22.49 |
| Georgia | $22.23 |
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (SOC 53-3032)
National median: $28.19/hr (about $58,640/yr) · middle half earns $23.06–$33.23/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $28.99 |
| Ohio | $28.75 |
| Tennessee | $28.18 |
| Pennsylvania | $28.16 |
| Arizona | $27.92 |
| Georgia | $27.43 |
| Texas | $27.06 |
| North Carolina | $24.77 |
| South Carolina | $24.58 |
| Florida | $24.34 |
| West Virginia | $23.79 |
| Louisiana | $23.71 |
Electricians (SOC 47-2111)
National median: $30.38/hr (about $63,190/yr) · middle half earns $23.76–$40.36/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $32.93 |
| Pennsylvania | $32.50 |
| West Virginia | $31.16 |
| Ohio | $31.11 |
| Louisiana | $29.59 |
| Tennessee | $29.37 |
| Arizona | $29.36 |
| South Carolina | $28.24 |
| Texas | $28.16 |
| Georgia | $28.04 |
| Florida | $27.52 |
| North Carolina | $27.31 |
Construction Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2073)
National median: $28.78/hr (about $59,850/yr) · middle half earns $23.40–$37.10/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $38.26 |
| Ohio | $31.22 |
| Arizona | $29.14 |
| Pennsylvania | $29.10 |
| Tennessee | $25.00 |
| Louisiana | $24.86 |
| West Virginia | $24.66 |
| Texas | $24.26 |
| Florida | $23.75 |
| North Carolina | $23.71 |
| South Carolina | $23.53 |
| Georgia | $23.02 |
HVAC & Refrigeration Mechanics (SOC 49-9021)
National median: $29.33/hr (about $61,010/yr) · middle half earns $23.25–$37.05/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $30.06 |
| Pennsylvania | $30.00 |
| Indiana | $29.05 |
| Arizona | $28.56 |
| Louisiana | $28.20 |
| Texas | $27.77 |
| North Carolina | $27.53 |
| Florida | $27.24 |
| South Carolina | $27.22 |
| Georgia | $27.11 |
| Tennessee | $26.68 |
| West Virginia | $23.49 |
Industrial Machinery Mechanics (SOC 49-9041)
National median: $31.02/hr (about $64,520/yr) · middle half earns $26.45–$37.88/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $35.96 |
| Ohio | $31.31 |
| Tennessee | $31.26 |
| Indiana | $30.74 |
| Pennsylvania | $30.69 |
| North Carolina | $30.02 |
| South Carolina | $29.96 |
| Texas | $29.78 |
| West Virginia | $29.67 |
| Georgia | $29.39 |
| Florida | $29.16 |
| Louisiana | $28.97 |
Instrument & Control Technicians (SOC 49-2094)
National median: $35.62/hr (about $74,090/yr) · middle half earns $28.86–$42.65/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $37.07 |
| North Carolina | $36.89 |
| South Carolina | $36.29 |
| West Virginia | $36.02 |
| Texas | $35.81 |
| Georgia | $32.92 |
| Indiana | $32.03 |
| Pennsylvania | $31.71 |
| Louisiana | $31.01 |
| Ohio | $29.96 |
| Tennessee | $29.60 |
| Florida | $29.58 |
Insulation Workers (Mechanical) (SOC 47-2132)
National median: $28.05/hr (about $58,340/yr) · middle half earns $23.13–$37.19/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $38.83 |
| Arizona | $38.66 |
| West Virginia | $35.68 |
| Indiana | $34.72 |
| Ohio | $32.50 |
| Georgia | $25.29 |
| South Carolina | $24.25 |
| Florida | $23.88 |
| Texas | $23.52 |
| North Carolina | $23.28 |
| Louisiana | $23.21 |
| Tennessee | $22.30 |
Structural Iron & Steel Workers (SOC 47-2221)
National median: $30.18/hr (about $62,780/yr) · middle half earns $23.98–$39.74/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $39.89 |
| Ohio | $35.92 |
| West Virginia | $34.54 |
| Indiana | $33.72 |
| Louisiana | $33.09 |
| Arizona | $28.55 |
| Tennessee | $27.29 |
| Florida | $26.78 |
| Texas | $25.12 |
| South Carolina | $24.40 |
| North Carolina | $23.43 |
| Georgia | $23.12 |
Electrical Power-Line Installers & Repairers (SOC 49-9051)
National median: $45.83/hr (about $95,320/yr) · middle half earns $32.34–$52.76/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $51.07 |
| Indiana | $49.06 |
| Ohio | $44.78 |
| Florida | $41.76 |
| West Virginia | $40.29 |
| Tennessee | $40.22 |
| Georgia | $38.50 |
| Texas | $37.95 |
| North Carolina | $37.15 |
| South Carolina | $36.96 |
| Louisiana | $36.74 |
| Arizona | $36.26 |
Machinists (SOC 51-4041)
National median: $28.24/hr (about $58,750/yr) · middle half earns $22.87–$32.55/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $29.38 |
| Arizona | $29.37 |
| Texas | $28.45 |
| South Carolina | $27.87 |
| Ohio | $27.86 |
| Pennsylvania | $27.79 |
| Indiana | $27.79 |
| Florida | $27.47 |
| North Carolina | $26.56 |
| Georgia | $25.29 |
| Tennessee | $23.85 |
| West Virginia | $22.77 |
Brickmasons & Blockmasons (SOC 47-2021)
National median: $29.87/hr (about $62,120/yr) · middle half earns $24.57–$38.15/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $35.15 |
| Ohio | $34.11 |
| Pennsylvania | $33.44 |
| Tennessee | $30.70 |
| Arizona | $28.49 |
| Louisiana | $27.62 |
| Texas | $27.12 |
| Florida | $25.37 |
| Georgia | $24.35 |
| North Carolina | $24.01 |
| South Carolina | $23.56 |
| West Virginia | $22.40 |
Millwrights (SOC 49-9044)
National median: $31.59/hr (about $65,700/yr) · middle half earns $27.11–$39.18/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $37.09 |
| Ohio | $35.20 |
| West Virginia | $32.34 |
| Louisiana | $31.77 |
| Pennsylvania | $30.96 |
| North Carolina | $30.29 |
| Georgia | $30.17 |
| Texas | $30.11 |
| Florida | $29.81 |
| Tennessee | $29.72 |
| South Carolina | $29.66 |
| Arizona | $27.59 |
Painters (Construction & Maintenance) (SOC 47-2141)
National median: $23.75/hr (about $49,400/yr) · middle half earns $21.46–$29.65/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $25.06 |
| Indiana | $24.16 |
| Ohio | $23.77 |
| Georgia | $23.24 |
| Arizona | $23.20 |
| Florida | $22.85 |
| Louisiana | $22.31 |
| Texas | $21.86 |
| West Virginia | $21.26 |
| North Carolina | $21.21 |
| Tennessee | $20.78 |
| South Carolina | $19.64 |
Pipefitters & Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152)
National median: $30.67/hr (about $63,800/yr) · middle half earns $24.13–$40.92/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $36.69 |
| Pennsylvania | $32.73 |
| Louisiana | $30.62 |
| Ohio | $30.45 |
| Arizona | $29.84 |
| Texas | $28.77 |
| Tennessee | $28.17 |
| Georgia | $27.50 |
| North Carolina | $27.44 |
| West Virginia | $27.39 |
| South Carolina | $25.93 |
| Florida | $25.44 |
Chemical Plant & System Operators (SOC 51-8091)
National median: $37.56/hr (about $78,120/yr) · middle half earns $29.01–$47.44/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Florida | $61.94 |
| Texas | $49.40 |
| Louisiana | $48.10 |
| West Virginia | $39.28 |
| Pennsylvania | $33.71 |
| South Carolina | $32.94 |
| Ohio | $32.49 |
| North Carolina | $30.25 |
| Georgia | $23.67 |
| Indiana | $23.61 |
| Tennessee | $22.03 |
Plumbers (SOC 47-2152)
National median: $30.67/hr (about $63,800/yr) · middle half earns $24.13–$40.92/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $36.69 |
| Pennsylvania | $32.73 |
| Louisiana | $30.62 |
| Ohio | $30.45 |
| Arizona | $29.84 |
| Texas | $28.77 |
| Tennessee | $28.17 |
| Georgia | $27.50 |
| North Carolina | $27.44 |
| West Virginia | $27.39 |
| South Carolina | $25.93 |
| Florida | $25.44 |
Construction & Building Inspectors (SOC 47-4011)
National median: $35.91/hr (about $74,690/yr) · middle half earns $28.30–$45.54/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $35.81 |
| Arizona | $35.31 |
| Louisiana | $32.82 |
| Florida | $32.77 |
| North Carolina | $31.77 |
| Georgia | $31.72 |
| Pennsylvania | $31.67 |
| Texas | $31.16 |
| West Virginia | $30.77 |
| Indiana | $30.21 |
| Tennessee | $28.79 |
| South Carolina | $28.29 |
Riggers (SOC 49-9096)
National median: $30.12/hr (about $62,640/yr) · middle half earns $23.18–$38.55/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Georgia | $32.31 |
| Pennsylvania | $28.92 |
| Ohio | $28.07 |
| North Carolina | $27.23 |
| Florida | $25.19 |
| Arizona | $25.18 |
| Texas | $24.99 |
| South Carolina | $24.53 |
| Tennessee | $22.68 |
| Indiana | $22.16 |
| Louisiana | $20.99 |
Roofers (SOC 47-2181)
National median: $26.65/hr (about $55,440/yr) · middle half earns $22.24–$31.44/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $27.88 |
| Pennsylvania | $26.79 |
| West Virginia | $24.60 |
| Ohio | $23.74 |
| North Carolina | $23.56 |
| Louisiana | $23.44 |
| Florida | $22.88 |
| Arizona | $22.76 |
| Georgia | $22.57 |
| Texas | $22.13 |
| South Carolina | $22.00 |
| Tennessee | $21.97 |
Scaffold Builders (SOC 47-2061)
National median: $22.66/hr (about $47,120/yr) · middle half earns $18.57–$28.72/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $26.96 |
| Indiana | $24.07 |
| Pennsylvania | $23.75 |
| Arizona | $22.40 |
| Tennessee | $21.64 |
| North Carolina | $21.50 |
| Florida | $21.17 |
| South Carolina | $20.65 |
| West Virginia | $20.51 |
| Texas | $19.53 |
| Georgia | $18.74 |
| Louisiana | $18.38 |
Sheet Metal Workers (SOC 47-2211)
National median: $29.71/hr (about $61,800/yr) · middle half earns $22.99–$39.24/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $35.96 |
| West Virginia | $34.81 |
| Indiana | $30.79 |
| Pennsylvania | $29.52 |
| Tennessee | $28.45 |
| Georgia | $27.31 |
| Texas | $26.08 |
| North Carolina | $24.39 |
| Louisiana | $24.19 |
| Arizona | $24.16 |
| South Carolina | $24.00 |
| Florida | $23.87 |
Structural Metal Fabricators & Fitters (SOC 51-2041)
National median: $24.68/hr (about $51,330/yr) · middle half earns $21.93–$29.45/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Indiana | $28.93 |
| Ohio | $25.14 |
| Pennsylvania | $24.83 |
| Tennessee | $24.26 |
| Georgia | $24.05 |
| Louisiana | $23.62 |
| North Carolina | $23.55 |
| Texas | $23.31 |
| Arizona | $23.15 |
| South Carolina | $22.56 |
| West Virginia | $22.54 |
| Florida | $22.54 |
Construction Laborers (SOC 47-2061)
National median: $22.66/hr (about $47,120/yr) · middle half earns $18.57–$28.72/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $26.96 |
| Indiana | $24.07 |
| Pennsylvania | $23.75 |
| Arizona | $22.40 |
| Tennessee | $21.64 |
| North Carolina | $21.50 |
| Florida | $21.17 |
| South Carolina | $20.65 |
| West Virginia | $20.51 |
| Texas | $19.53 |
| Georgia | $18.74 |
| Louisiana | $18.38 |
Solar Photovoltaic Installers (SOC 47-2231)
National median: $25.55/hr (about $53,140/yr) · middle half earns $22.45–$30.23/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $30.00 |
| Arizona | $24.60 |
| Florida | $24.30 |
| South Carolina | $24.27 |
| Texas | $23.19 |
| Georgia | $22.98 |
| Pennsylvania | $22.96 |
| Indiana | $22.18 |
| North Carolina | $21.09 |
Welders, Cutters & Solderers (SOC 51-4121)
National median: $25.84/hr (about $53,750/yr) · middle half earns $22.50–$30.29/hr
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $29.93 |
| Arizona | $26.73 |
| Texas | $25.64 |
| Pennsylvania | $25.43 |
| Florida | $24.35 |
| North Carolina | $24.32 |
| Ohio | $24.20 |
| South Carolina | $24.03 |
| Indiana | $23.91 |
| West Virginia | $23.46 |
| Georgia | $23.28 |
| Tennessee | $23.10 |
Common questions
What is per diem for traveling trades?
Per diem is the daily allowance for lodging and meals & incidentals (M&IE) paid when a tradesperson works away from their tax home. The federal (GSA) standard rate for FY2026 is $110/night lodging plus $68/day M&IE; designated high-cost areas run higher. Employers set their own per diem, commonly at or under the federal ceiling.
How much do traveling electricians make?
The national median for electricians is $30.38/hour (about $63,190/year) per BLS OEWS 2025. Among tracked states, Indiana has the highest statewide median at $32.93/hour. Traveling and shutdown contracts frequently pay above the all-workers median, plus per diem on top.
How much do traveling welders make?
The national median for welders, cutters & solderers is $25.84/hour (about $53,750/year) per BLS OEWS 2025. Among tracked states, Louisiana has the highest statewide median at $29.93/hour. Traveling and shutdown contracts frequently pay above the all-workers median, plus per diem on top.
Do traveling trades jobs pay per diem on top of hourly wages?
Typically yes. Traveling postings quote an hourly rate plus a per-diem amount per day worked or per week; the RoadTrades job board shows both on every posting so the full package is comparable.
What is a blended rate?
A blended rate combines the hourly wage and the per diem into one effective hourly figure so offers with different wage/per-diem splits are comparable. The RoadTrades blended rate calculator computes it, including take-home and household mode.
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