Women in Construction and the Skilled Trades (2026) in North Carolina
How women in construction and the skilled trades (2026) fare in North Carolina — state-adjusted pay gap, state ranking, and the national context that frames the local picture.
The state-adjusted picture
Women in construction and the skilled trades (2026) nationally face the same structural conditions as women in every other field — but the overall wage environment in North Carolina modifies the baseline by +1.3% relative to the US average. A state where the overall pay gap is narrower tends to reflect narrower gaps within fields too, though field-specific dynamics dominate for specialized professions.
North Carolina elected its first woman US Senator in 2015.
National context
The skilled trades — electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, operators — are 89% male. They're also some of the best-paid non-degree jobs in the US, with strong union protection and clear advancement paths. This page tracks where women are in the trades and where the structural barriers sit.
National headline stats (construction and the skilled trades (2026))
Other fields in North Carolina
Construction and the Skilled Trades (2026) in other states
Related pages
Frequently asked
What is the pay gap for women in construction and the skilled trades (2026) in North Carolina?
North Carolina’s overall pay ratio is 84.9% — a 15.1% gap. The gap within construction and the skilled trades (2026) follows the national pattern modified by North Carolina’s overall wage environment. See the full national field data for in-field specifics.
How does North Carolina rank on pay equity?
North Carolina ranks #13 of 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity, per Census ACS state ratios.
How are women represented in North Carolina politics?
29.4% of North Carolina state legislators are women (CAWP 2024). 4 women from North Carolina serve in the 119th US Congress.
Where does the national construction and the skilled trades (2026) data come from?
Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR); BLS Current Population Survey; US DOL Apprenticeship.gov