Skilled Wages

Highest-paying trades in Texas

29 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states and the union scale.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025

Every trade in Texas, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60/hrElevator mechanic: $49.11 (cost-of-living adjusted $50.58)Elevator mechanic$49.11Construction manager: $48.78 (cost-of-living adjusted $50.24)Construction manager$48.78Lineman: $37.95 (cost-of-living adjusted $39.08)Lineman$37.95Boilermaker: $36.42 (cost-of-living adjusted $37.51)Boilermaker$36.42Construction supervisor: $35.83 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.90)Construction supervisor$35.83Crane operator: $35.23 (cost-of-living adjusted $36.28)Crane operator$35.23Millwright: $30.11 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.01)Millwright$30.11Wind turbine technician: $29.79 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.68)Wind turbine technician$29.79Plumber: $28.77 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.63)Plumber$28.77Machinist: $28.45 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.30)Machinist$28.45Diesel mechanic: $28.27 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.11)Diesel mechanic$28.27Electrician: $28.16 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.00)Electrician$28.16HVAC technician: $27.77 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.60)HVAC technician$27.77Brickmason: $27.12 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.93)Brickmason$27.12Sheet metal worker: $26.08 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.86)Sheet metal worker$26.08Welder: $25.64 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.41)Welder$25.64Ironworker: $25.12 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.87)Ironworker$25.12Plasterer: $24.59 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.32)Plasterer$24.59Heavy equipment operator: $24.26 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.98)Heavy equipment operator$24.26Carpenter: $23.51 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.21)Carpenter$23.51Insulation worker: $23.43 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.13)Insulation worker$23.43Solar installer: $23.19 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.88)Solar installer$23.19Glazier: $22.95 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.64)Glazier$22.95Drywall installer: $22.88 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.56)Drywall installer$22.88Cement mason: $22.84 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.52)Cement mason$22.84Tile setter: $22.61 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.29)Tile setter$22.61Roofer: $22.13 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.79)Roofer$22.13Painter: $21.86 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.51)Painter$21.86Construction laborer: $19.53 (cost-of-living adjusted $20.11)Construction laborer$19.53
Median hourly wage by trade in Texas, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 97.1, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Elevator mechanic$49.11$102,140$58.562,03025th of 37+1.2%7% below
2Construction manager$48.78$101,470$80.1959,06042nd of 51-9.2%12% below
3Lineman$37.95$78,940$51.7117,28042nd of 51+8.0%17% below
4Boilermaker$36.42$75,750$48.162,34024th of 37-5.1%1% below
5Construction supervisor$35.83$74,520$52.6390,01045th of 51-12.2%7% below
6Crane operator$35.23$73,280$44.906,01019th of 50+2.5%8% above
7Millwright$30.11$62,630$44.473,54032nd of 48+3.1%5% below
8Wind turbine technician$29.79$61,950$37.643,89018th of 25-11.9%3% below
9Plumber$28.77$59,840$39.3744,09039th of 51-1.2%6% below
10Machinist$28.45$59,180$39.9421,70024th of 51+10.2%1% above
11Diesel mechanic$28.27$58,810$39.2629,87041st of 51+0.8%5% below
12Electrician$28.16$58,570$38.6176,77045th of 51-1.2%7% below
13HVAC technician$27.77$57,760$39.3634,73038th of 51+4.7%5% below
14Brickmason$27.12$56,410$29.304,30037th of 50+2.5%9% below
15Sheet metal worker$26.08$54,240$37.699,54038th of 50+10.5%12% below
16Welder$25.64$53,340$38.5852,00029th of 51+0.2%1% below
17Ironworker$25.12$52,240$37.279,70043rd of 50+5.4%17% below
18Plasterer$24.59$51,140$30.001,40020th of 28+10.9%11% below
19Heavy equipment operator$24.26$50,460$33.6655,54043rd of 51+0.7%16% below
20Carpenter$23.51$48,900$31.6933,54045th of 51+4.3%19% below
21Insulation worker$23.43$48,740$30.407,12026th of 48—1% below
22Solar installer$23.19$48,240$35.435,27024th of 32+5.6%9% below
23Glazier$22.95$47,730$28.845,85039th of 50-1.2%16% below
24Drywall installer$22.88$47,590$29.345,76037th of 49+4.3%19% below
25Cement mason$22.84$47,500$29.2226,43044th of 51+13.6%17% below
26Tile setter$22.61$47,030$38.891,26035th of 47+10.2%16% below
27Roofer$22.13$46,030$29.595,74044th of 51+4.7%17% below
28Painter$21.86$45,460$28.3218,33041st of 51+2.4%8% below
29Construction laborer$19.53$40,620$27.37123,25044th of 51+7.8%14% below

Construction jobs in Texas

929.9kConstruction jobs2026-08
+2.2%Change over 12 months
+25.4%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-2026200k400k600k800k1,000k19901995200020052010201520202025930kAug 2026
Construction employment in Texas, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in Texas

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Texas, 47 of 251 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $47.19/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in Texas

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in Texas?

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $49.11 an hour in May 2025, followed by construction managers ($48.78) and electrical power-line installers and repairers ($37.95).

How does Texas compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 29 trades listed, 2 pay above the national median in Texas and 27 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 97.1% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Texas.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-08.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities.
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).