Commercial trades hiring in Winston-Salem.
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist completed a ~$426M care tower in July 2025, while Innovation Quarter's Phase II adds eight new buildings across 28 acres. Healthcare-construction electricians now run about 9% above national wage.
A hospital tower, and a growing biotech/mixed-use district.
Winston-Salem's construction share of employment runs at 5.4%, close to the 5.5% national figure - a genuinely balanced market, but with real concentrated demand from two large, distinct projects.
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist completed the Dr. Julie Ann Freischlag Tower in July 2025, part of a ~$426M campus expansion; the $619.1M bond issuance cited elsewhere also covered refinancing of other system debt, not solely this tower - one of the largest healthcare capital projects in the region's history. Separately, Innovation Quarter Phase II is a 28-acre site adding eight new buildings and over 2.5 million sq ft of retail, scientific, healthcare, and residential space between downtown and U.S. 52.
Downtown, a ~$25M, 5,000-capacity amphitheater - grown from an initial ~$10M modular concept - breaks ground in July 2026, and the Choice Neighborhood Initiative is building 114 new mixed-income housing units in the Northeast Ward.
Major capital projects driving Winston-Salem commercial trades demand
- Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Freischlag Tower~$426M campus expansion (the $619.1M bond issuance also covered refinancing of other system debt, not solely this tower)Opened July 2025
A new care tower on the main Ardmore campus - one of the largest healthcare capital projects in the region's history.
- Innovation Quarter Phase IIUndisclosed (28 acres, 2.5M+ sq ft planned)Multi-year buildout
Eight new buildings between downtown Winston-Salem and U.S. 52, combining retail, scientific/biotech, healthcare, and residential space.
- Downtown amphitheater~$25MGroundbreaking July 2026
A permanent, 5,000-capacity venue - grown from an initial ~$10M modular concept - anchoring downtown's entertainment district.
- Choice Neighborhood Initiative housingUndisclosedConstruction underway
114 new mixed-income housing units revitalizing the Cleveland Avenue neighborhood in the Northeast Ward.
What you'll actually pay in Winston-Salem, by role.
Most conventional trades in this metro run close to national parity. Healthcare-construction electricians and medical gas certified plumbers are the clear exceptions, both at about 9% above national, tied to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's Freischlag Tower.
| Role | Winston-Salem wage range | National average | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial construction manager / superintendent | $54 – $69/hr | $54 – $68/hr | +2% |
| Commercial HVAC mechanic / technician | $27 – $35/hr | $28 – $35/hr | -1% |
| Commercial electrician (journeyman) | $28 – $36/hr | $27 – $34/hr | +4% |
| Healthcare-construction electrician | $32 – $41/hr | $29 – $38/hr | +9% |
| Commercial plumber (journeyman) | $26 – $33/hr | $26 – $32/hr | +1% |
| Medical gas certified plumber | $30 – $39/hr | $28 – $36/hr | +9% |
| Structural welder / ironworker | $26 – $34/hr | $27 – $35/hr | -3% |
| Heavy equipment operator (site work) | $24 – $31/hr | $23 – $30/hr | +3% |
| Fire sprinkler fitter (NICET II+) | $27 – $35/hr | $28 – $36/hr | -2% |
| Commercial estimator (5+ yrs) | $42 – $55/hr | $42 – $54/hr | +1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Winston-Salem MSA. Ranges reflect 25th-75th percentile, projected to 2026. Actual offer rates depend on certifications, healthcare experience, and years of experience.
What's happening in Winston-Salem, trade by trade.
Quick read of the current Winston-Salem market for each of our 20 commercial trades verticals.
HVAC & Mechanical
The Freischlag Tower needs hospital-grade mechanical systems at real scale. Standard commercial HVAC otherwise tracks close to national parity.
Commercial Electrical
Healthcare-construction electricians for the Freischlag Tower run about 9% above national - the clear premium in an otherwise near-parity market.
Commercial Plumbing
Medical gas plumbing for the new care tower is the standout specialty at +9%. Standard commercial plumbing tracks close to national parity.
Commercial Construction
Superintendents with healthcare or mixed-use/biotech delivery experience are the premium hire across Innovation Quarter's 28-acre Phase II buildout and the Freischlag Tower.
Commercial Roofing
The Freischlag Tower and Innovation Quarter Phase II's eight buildings both carry substantial roofing scope; standard commercial roofing tracks close to national parity.
Fire Protection
Healthcare-grade suppression for the Freischlag Tower is specialized, code-heavy demand.
Paving & Asphalt
Innovation Quarter's 28-acre Phase II site work and the Long Branch Trail extension both drive steady heavy-civil demand.
Commercial Landscaping
Standard institutional and corporate landscaping demand tied to Innovation Quarter's mixed-use buildout and downtown's broader growth.
Commercial Flooring
Healthcare-grade seamless resinous flooring for the Freischlag Tower is a distinct, higher-skill installation than conventional commercial flooring.
Commercial Painting
Healthcare-grade coatings for the Freischlag Tower are a real niche; conventional commercial painting tracks close to national parity.
Commercial Cleaning & FM
Healthcare-grade cleaning and facilities management for the expanded Wake Forest Baptist campus is a distinct, higher-skill tier from conventional office cleaning.
Welding & Fabrication
Structural fabrication for Innovation Quarter's new buildings and the Freischlag Tower is steady demand. Standard shop welding tracks close to national parity.
Commercial Irrigation
A specialist trade most contractors still source through agriculture or generalist staffing - we recruit it directly, not as an afterthought.
Commercial Pest Control
Licensing-driven and referral-heavy - a maintained, license-verified pipeline outperforms reactive posting in this trade specifically.
Commercial Trucking
A licensing-bottlenecked market where CDL credentials and clean records matter more than resume keywords.
Elevator Maintenance
A small, credential-gated labor pool most generalist recruiters can't actually verify.
Insulation
Mechanical insulators and building-envelope installers are two distinct hiring pools most recruiters treat as one.
LED & Solar
One of the fastest-growing trades we track nationally, and one of the least served by specialist recruiters.
Masonry & Concrete
A small, referral-driven labor pool where reputation moves faster than job postings.
Physical Security
Installers and integrators need both electrical and IT skill - a dual-skillset hiring problem most firms get wrong.
The positions we fill in Winston-Salem, most often.
We recruit across the full org chart for commercial trades contractors in Winston-Salem - from senior leadership down to field roles. The highest-volume positions in this market over the last 24 months:
- Healthcare-construction electrician - the hardest hire in the region
- Medical gas certified plumber
- Superintendent with healthcare or mixed-use/biotech delivery experience
- Project manager (healthcare, mixed-use, commercial GC)
- Senior estimator
- Heavy equipment operator (site work)
- 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 — commercial trades hiring in Winston-Salem.
How do you hire commercial trades talent in Winston-Salem in 2026?
Commercial trades hiring in Winston-Salem in 2026 is shaped by a major healthcare expansion running alongside a large mixed-use/biotech buildout. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist completed the Dr. Julie Ann Freischlag Tower in July 2025, part of a ~$426M campus expansion; the $619.1M bond issuance cited elsewhere also covered refinancing of other system debt, not solely this tower. Separately, Innovation Quarter Phase II is adding eight new buildings across 28 acres and over 2.5 million sq ft of retail, scientific, healthcare, and residential space. Downtown, a ~$25M, 5,000-capacity amphitheater is breaking ground in July 2026, and the Choice Neighborhood Initiative is building 114 new mixed-income housing units. Most conventional trades in this metro run close to national wage parity, but healthcare-construction electricians and medical gas certified plumbers both run about 9% above national, tied to the Freischlag Tower. North Carolina licenses electrical contractors and plumbing/HVAC/fire-sprinkler contractors through separate state boards. My Trade Talent screens Winston-Salem candidates against both the near-parity general market and the healthcare-specific skills premium.
How long does it take to hire a commercial trades professional in Winston-Salem?
For field roles: typically 4-6 weeks from intake to signed offer. Medical gas plumbers and healthcare-construction electricians run slightly longer, 6-8 weeks, because Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's Freischlag Tower is drawing on a specialized labor pool since its July 2025 opening.
Are commercial trades wages in Winston-Salem higher than the national average?
Most conventional trades run close to national parity - a balanced market overall. The exceptions are healthcare-specific: healthcare-construction electricians and medical gas certified plumbers both run about 9% above national, tied to the Freischlag Tower.
What's driving commercial trades demand in Winston-Salem right now?
A major healthcare expansion running alongside a large mixed-use/biotech buildout. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist completed the Dr. Julie Ann Freischlag Tower in July 2025, part of a ~$426M campus expansion; the $619.1M bond issuance cited elsewhere also covered refinancing of other system debt, not solely this tower. Separately, Innovation Quarter Phase II is adding eight new buildings across 28 acres and over 2.5 million sq ft of retail, scientific, healthcare, and residential space. Downtown, a ~$25M, 5,000-capacity amphitheater is breaking ground in July 2026, and the Choice Neighborhood Initiative is building 114 new mixed-income housing units.
What licensing applies to commercial trades contractors in Winston-Salem?
North Carolina licenses electrical contractors through the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (4,000-10,000 documented hours depending on license level, plus a surety bond) and licenses plumbing, HVAC, and fire sprinkler contractors through a separate State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating, and Fire Sprinkler Contractors (minimum 4,000 documented hours).
Hiring commercial trades in Winston-Salem?
Tell us the role. We'll tell you wages, timeline, and where we'd source the candidate - in under 30 minutes.