Commercial trades hiring in Hampton Roads.
The Navy's $47.4B FY2026 shipbuilding budget — the largest single-year US shipbuilding investment since the Cold War — is running through Newport News Shipbuilding's concurrent submarine programs. Certified marine welders now run about 19% above national wage, the largest premium we track anywhere.
The Navy's largest shipbuilding push since the Cold War.
Hampton Roads' construction share of employment sits at 5.4%, essentially at the 5.5% national figure — a balanced market overall. The exception, and it's a large one, is anything welding- or marine-electrical-adjacent.
Newport News Shipbuilding, Virginia's largest industrial employer, holds $42.1B in Virginia-class submarine contracts (9 boats plus material for a 10th) and $29.5B in Columbia-class contracts (5 boats), running concurrently. Both draw on the same pool of certified welders, marine pipefitters, and industrial electricians.
The demand is so intense that HII, the shipyard's parent company, announced it will outsource more than 2.5 million hours of shipbuilding work in 2026 — a 30% increase from 2025 — across 25 locations in 11 states. That is a direct signal that the regional labor pool cannot supply the volume the build schedule requires.
Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval station, adds steady military-construction demand — a new Child Development Center, substations, and Pier 14 power infrastructure for aircraft carrier operations — independent of the shipyard's submarine programs.
Major capital projects driving Hampton Roads commercial trades demand
- FY2026 Navy shipbuilding program$47.4BFY2026, largest single-year US shipbuilding investment since the Cold War
Triggers major construction and outfitting activity at public shipyards, with a distributed manufacturing model spanning 11 states. Newport News Shipbuilding, Virginia's largest industrial employer, is a primary beneficiary.
- Virginia-class submarine contracts$42.1B (9 boats + material for a 10th)Multi-year build program
Sustained, large-scale demand for structural and pipe welders, marine pipefitters, and industrial electricians at Newport News Shipbuilding.
- Columbia-class submarine contracts$29.5B (5 boats)Multi-year build program
A second concurrent submarine program at the same shipyard, compounding demand for the same certified welding and marine-trades labor pool as the Virginia-class program.
- HII shipbuilding work outsourcing2.5M+ hours in 2026 (+30% YoY)2026, across 25 locations in 11 states
Newport News Shipbuilding's parent company is outsourcing a record volume of shipbuilding work, signaling the regional labor pool cannot keep pace with the Navy's build schedule on its own.
- Naval Station Norfolk infrastructureMulti-project military constructionOngoing
New Child Development Center, substations, and Pier 14 power infrastructure supporting aircraft carrier operations — steady commercial-construction and electrical demand tied to the world's largest naval station.
What you'll actually pay — by role.
Most Hampton Roads commercial trades run 2-7% above BLS national averages. Marine/submarine-certified welders (+19%) and marine electricians (+13%) carry by far the largest premiums, both driven directly by Newport News Shipbuilding's concurrent submarine programs.
| Role | Hampton Roads wage range | National average | Hampton Roads delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial construction manager / superintendent | $55 – $71/hr | $54 – $68/hr | +3% |
| Commercial HVAC mechanic / technician | $28 – $36/hr | $28 – $35/hr | +2% |
| Commercial electrician (journeyman) | $29 – $38/hr | $27 – $34/hr | +7% |
| Marine electrician (shipyard) | $34 – $45/hr | $29 – $38/hr | +13% |
| Commercial plumber (journeyman) | $27 – $35/hr | $26 – $32/hr | +4% |
| Marine / submarine-certified welder | $33 – $44/hr | $27 – $35/hr | +19% |
| Marine pipefitter | $34 – $44/hr | $30 – $38/hr | +10% |
| Commercial roofer (foreman) | $23 – $30/hr | $22 – $28/hr | +6% |
| Fire sprinkler fitter (NICET II+) | $29 – $37/hr | $28 – $36/hr | +3% |
| Commercial estimator (5+ yrs) | $44 – $58/hr | $42 – $54/hr | +6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News MSA. Ranges reflect 25th-75th percentile, projected to 2026. Actual offer rates depend on certifications, submarine/marine shipyard experience, and years of experience.
What's happening, trade by trade.
Quick read of the current Hampton Roads market for each of our twelve commercial trades verticals.
HVAC & Mechanical
Conventional commercial HVAC tracks close to national average outside the naval/shipyard corridor. Naval Station Norfolk's facility programs add steady institutional demand, but the mechanical trade isn't where this metro's real premium lives — that's in electrical and welding.
Commercial Electrical
Marine electricians serving Newport News Shipbuilding's submarine programs run about 13% above national — the region's $47.4B FY2026 Navy shipbuilding budget is pulling hard on this specific skill set. Conventional commercial electrical is comparatively available.
Commercial Plumbing
Standard commercial plumbing tracks close to national average. Marine plumbing/piping support for the shipyard is a smaller, specialized niche adjacent to the much larger marine pipefitter trade.
Commercial Construction
Naval Station Norfolk's ongoing infrastructure program (child development center, substations, carrier-pier power systems) and general commercial construction across the metro. Superintendents with military/government-facility experience are the differentiated hire.
Commercial Roofing
Coastal Virginia's hurricane and nor'easter exposure makes wind-uplift-rated installation a genuine premium skill. Standard commercial re-roof and new-construction demand is steady across the metro.
Fire Protection
Shipyard and naval-facility fire suppression carries specialized, code-heavy requirements distinct from conventional commercial work. NICET-certified designers with military or marine-facility experience are scarce.
Paving & Asphalt
Naval Station Norfolk and the broader Hampton Roads military footprint drive steady access-road and site paving demand, alongside standard municipal and commercial work across the metro.
Commercial Landscaping
Large military installations and corporate/institutional campuses across Hampton Roads drive steady grounds-maintenance demand, with stormwater management a real consideration given the region's coastal exposure.
Commercial Flooring
Standard commercial flooring demand tracks the metro's broader institutional and commercial construction. No standout specialty premium relative to the shipbuilding-driven trades.
Commercial Painting
Marine and structural coatings for shipyard work require certified industrial applicators with corrosion-control expertise — a real specialty given the region's naval-industrial base. Conventional commercial painting is steady and adequately supplied.
Commercial Cleaning & FM
Military-facility and shipyard-adjacent cleaning protocols are a distinct, higher-scrutiny tier from conventional commercial cleaning. CIMS-certified account managers with government-facility experience command real premiums.
Welding & Fabrication
The defining trade in this metro. Newport News Shipbuilding is running concurrent Virginia-class ($42.1B, 9 boats) and Columbia-class ($29.5B, 5 boats) submarine programs, and its parent company is outsourcing a record 2.5M+ hours of shipbuilding work in 2026 because the regional labor pool can't keep pace. Certified marine/submarine welders run about 19% above national — by far the largest premium we track in any metro.
The positions we fill, most often.
We recruit across the full org chart for commercial trades contractors in Hampton Roads — from senior leadership down to field roles. The highest-volume positions in this market over the last 24 months:
- Marine / submarine-certified welder — the hardest hire in the region, by far
- Marine electrician (shipyard)
- Marine pipefitter
- Superintendent with military/government-facility experience
- Project manager (military, marine, commercial)
- Senior estimator
- NICET-certified fire sprinkler designer (military/marine facilities)
- Industrial coatings applicator (marine/corrosion control)
- CIMS-certified cleaning account manager (government-facility protocols)
- Service manager (HVAC, electrical, plumbing)
For a full list of the 80+ commercial trades positions we recruit for, see the individual industry pages — each lists the 10 most-recruited roles for that trade with current wage ranges.
Frequently asked questions.
How long does it take to hire a commercial trades professional in Virginia Beach / Hampton Roads?
For field roles outside the shipyard trades: typically 4-6 weeks from intake to signed offer. Marine welders and marine electricians run considerably longer, 8-14 weeks, because Newport News Shipbuilding's concurrent submarine programs are drawing so heavily on the certified labor pool that the shipyard's own parent company is outsourcing over 2.5 million hours of work in 2026 to compensate.
Are commercial trades wages in Hampton Roads higher than the national average?
For most trades, modestly — 2-7% above BLS national averages. For marine and shipyard trades, dramatically: marine welders run about 19% above national and marine electricians about 13% above, both driven directly by the $47.4B FY2026 Navy shipbuilding budget and the concurrent Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs at Newport News Shipbuilding.
How does the Navy's shipbuilding budget affect commercial trades hiring in Hampton Roads?
It's the dominant factor for anything welding- or marine-electrical-adjacent. The FY2026 Navy budget includes $47.4B for shipbuilding — the largest single-year US shipbuilding investment since the Cold War — and Newport News Shipbuilding holds $42.1B in Virginia-class and $29.5B in Columbia-class submarine contracts running concurrently. That demand is so intense that HII, the shipyard's parent, is outsourcing more than 2.5 million hours of work in 2026, a 30% increase from 2025, across 25 locations in 11 states. For a commercial contractor in this region, that means direct competition for certified welders and marine electricians against the country's largest shipbuilding program.
What licensing applies to commercial trades contractors in Hampton Roads?
Virginia licenses contractors statewide through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) in three classes by contract value — Class A (unlimited), Class B (up to $149,999/project), Class C (up to $29,999/project) — across 40+ trade classifications including Electrical (ELE), Plumbing (PLB), and HVAC (HVA). We verify the correct class and classification for the scope of work before presenting any candidate.
Does My Trade Talent have an office in Virginia Beach?
No. We're headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. We serve Hampton Roads clients remotely with same-day intake calls, market-specific candidate sourcing, and on-site visits as needed.
How does My Trade Talent know the Hampton Roads market without being based there?
We focus exclusively on commercial trades and maintain market data on every metro we serve — capital project tracking, wage benchmarks, and candidate network depth by trade. The Navy's shipbuilding budget and its effect on the regional welding and marine-electrical labor pool is exactly the kind of concentrated demand signal we track closely.
Hiring commercial trades in Hampton Roads?
Tell us the role. We'll tell you wages, timeline, and where we'd source the candidate — in under 30 minutes.
My Trade Talent is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, serving commercial trades clients across the continental US — including the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News MSA.