Highest-Paying Trades in Texas 2026

50 skilled trades tracked in Texas metro areas. The top-paying trade is Construction Manager at $104,084 median salary. Data from BLS OEWS (2025).

#	Trade	Median Salary	Cities	Avg Score
1	Construction Manager	$104,084	3	83
2	Elevator Mechanic	$99,379	3	89
3	Electrical Power-Line Tech	$86,170	3	89
4	Power Line Installer	$84,043	3	89
5	Underwater Welder	$76,668	3	67
6	Aircraft Mechanic	$71,341	3	70
7	Pile Driver Operator	$69,225	3	63
8	Boilermaker	$67,248	3	59
9	Steamfitter	$66,496	3	67
10	Wind Turbine Technician	$65,153	3	93
11	Industrial Electrician	$64,593	3	75
12	Pipefitter	$64,019	3	71
13	Building Inspector	$63,944	3	61
14	Fire Sprinkler Fitter	$62,616	3	73
15	Electrician	$62,395	3	75
16	Millwright	$62,066	3	66
17	Industrial Machinery Mechanic	$61,826	3	70
18	Crane Operator	$61,112	3	70
19	Telecommunications Tech	$60,665	3	69
20	Carpenter	$59,572	3	59
21	HVAC Technician	$59,312	3	79
22	Ironworker	$58,949	3	64
23	Sheet Metal Worker	$58,687	3	60
24	Plumber	$58,266	3	73
25	Tool and Die Maker	$56,546	3	49
26	Mason (Bricklayer)	$55,385	3	53
27	Heavy Equipment Operator	$55,338	3	62
28	Structural Welder	$54,884	3	61
29	Refrigeration Mechanic	$54,164	3	69
30	Diesel Mechanic	$54,157	3	62
31	Glazier	$51,593	3	55
32	Environmental Engineering Tech	$51,163	3	64
33	Machinist	$50,209	3	54
34	Drywall Installer	$49,769	3	49
35	Locksmith	$49,272	3	45
36	Well Driller	$49,235	3	49
37	Maintenance Mechanic	$48,969	3	55
38	Solar PV Installer	$48,539	3	82
39	Tile Setter	$48,497	3	48
40	Concrete Finisher	$48,026	3	53
41	Welder	$47,870	3	56
42	Painter (Construction)	$47,830	3	44
43	Auto Mechanic	$47,671	3	47
44	Plasterer	$47,418	3	43
45	Insulation Worker	$47,402	3	56
46	Roofer	$47,350	3	51
47	Floor Layer	$45,530	3	46
48	CNC Machine Operator	$42,781	3	44
49	Septic Tank Servicer	$42,670	3	43
50	Scaffold Builder	$41,876	3	44

Skilled trade wage data for Texas is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.
— BLS OEWS (2025)

Frequently Asked Questions

Construction Manager is the highest-paying skilled trade in Texas with a median salary of $104,084 across 3 metro areas.

We track 50 skilled trades across metro areas in Texas using Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.

The Trade Pay Score (0-100, A-F) rates each trade-city combination on median wage vs. household income (30%), 5-year wage growth (25%), job demand (25%), and cost-of-living adjusted pay (20%).

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS

Trades ranked by median salary across metro areas in the state. Trade Pay Score: wage vs. household income (30%), 5-year growth (25%), job demand (25%), COL-adjusted pay (20%).

Best-Paying Trades Nationwide →All Trade Data for Texas →