Highest-paying trades in Texas
Updated September 27, 2026
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay are the highest-paying skilled trade in Texas, with a median of $102,470 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 51 of the 86 trades ranked here pay more than the $48,620 median for all jobs in Texas.
All 86 trades by median pay in Texas
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay2,360 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $102,470$49.26/hr |
| 2 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers2,030 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $102,140$49.11/hr |
| 3 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment580 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $86,520$41.60/hr |
| 4 | Signal and track switch repairers650 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $85,020$40.88/hr |
| 5 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians16,850 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $84,440$40.60/hr |
| 6 | Avionics technicians1,710 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $81,950$39.40/hr |
| 7 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers17,280 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $78,940$37.95/hr |
| 8 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers830 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $77,910$37.46/hr |
| 9 | Boilermakers2,340 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $75,750$36.42/hr |
| 10 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers9,700 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $75,740$36.42/hr |
| 11 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment13,540 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $74,480$35.81/hr |
| 12 | Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons130 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $67,330$32.37/hr |
| 13 | Pile driver operators280 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $66,140$31.80/hr |
| 14 | Construction and building inspectors18,230 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $64,810$31.16/hr |
| 15 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other580 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $64,150$30.84/hr |
| 16 | Millwrights3,540 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $62,630$30.11/hr |
| 17 | Wind turbine service technicians3,890 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $61,950$29.79/hr |
| 18 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines20,080 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $61,940$29.78/hr |
| 19 | Industrial machinery mechanics56,950 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $61,930$29.78/hr |
| 20 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers2,250 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $60,290$28.99/hr |
| 21 | Watch and clock repairers−11% vs U.S. | $59,950$28.82/hr |
| 22 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters44,090 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $59,840$28.77/hr |
| 23 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers13,440 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $59,370$28.54/hr |
| 24 | Rail car repairers2,690 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $59,330$28.53/hr |
| 25 | Maintenance workers, machinery8,800 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $59,280$28.50/hr |
| 26 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists29,870 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $58,810$28.27/hr |
| 27 | Electricians76,770 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $58,570$28.16/hr |
| 28 | Medical equipment repairers5,540 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $58,370$28.06/hr |
| 29 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door11,630 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $58,230$28.00/hr |
| 30 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers34,730 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $57,760$27.77/hr |
| 31 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians2,200 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $57,150$27.47/hr |
| 32 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators940 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $56,470$27.15/hr |
| 33 | Brickmasons and blockmasons4,300 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $56,410$27.12/hr |
| 34 | Sheet metal workers9,540 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $54,240$26.08/hr |
| 35 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers52,000 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $53,340$25.64/hr |
| 36 | Motorcycle mechanics1,170 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $53,330$25.64/hr |
| 37 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians1,010 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $53,290$25.62/hr |
| 38 | Security and fire alarm systems installers10,260 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $52,270$25.13/hr |
| 39 | Structural iron and steel workers9,700 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $52,240$25.12/hr |
| 40 | Riggers3,770 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $51,980$24.99/hr |
| 41 | Automotive body and related repairers14,070 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $51,700$24.86/hr |
| 42 | Plasterers and stucco masons1,400 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $51,140$24.59/hr |
| 43 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers3,640 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $50,650$24.35/hr |
| 44 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators55,540 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $50,460$24.26/hr |
| 45 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers1,560 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $49,960$24.02/hr |
| 46 | Recreational vehicle service technicians1,890 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $49,710$23.90/hr |
| 47 | Insulation workers, mechanical4,190 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $48,930$23.52/hr |
| 48 | Carpenters33,540 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $48,900$23.51/hr |
| 49 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall7,120 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $48,740$23.43/hr |
| 50 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles1,210 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $48,730$23.43/hr |
| 51 | Home appliance repairers2,200 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $48,630$23.38/hr |
| 52 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics69,750 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $48,310$23.23/hr |
| 53 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners580 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $48,250$23.20/hr |
| 54 | Solar photovoltaic installers5,270 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $48,240$23.19/hr |
| 55 | Mechanical door repairers2,010 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $48,190$23.17/hr |
| 56 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers3,350 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,840$23.00/hr |
| 57 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers2,490 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $47,770$22.97/hr |
| 58 | Glaziers5,850 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $47,730$22.95/hr |
| 59 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers5,760 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $47,590$22.88/hr |
| 60 | Cement masons and concrete finishers26,430 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $47,500$22.84/hr |
| 61 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators3,940 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $47,060$22.63/hr |
| 62 | Tile and stone setters1,260 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $47,030$22.61/hr |
| 63 | Maintenance and repair workers, general140,580 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,670$22.44/hr |
| 64 | Automotive glass installers and repairers2,220 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $46,550$22.38/hr |
| 65 | Commercial divers−36% vs U.S. | $46,490$22.35/hr |
| 66 | Roofers5,740 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $46,030$22.13/hr |
| 67 | Stonemasons420 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $45,790$22.02/hr |
| 68 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics2,270 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $45,720$21.98/hr |
| 69 | Pipelayers5,010 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $45,620$21.93/hr |
| 70 | Highway maintenance workers6,630 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $45,540$21.90/hr |
| 71 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers7,140 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $45,480$21.87/hr |
| 72 | Painters, construction and maintenance18,330 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $45,460$21.86/hr |
| 73 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other18,580 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $45,360$21.81/hr |
| 74 | Hazardous materials removal workers4,450 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $44,390$21.34/hr |
| 75 | Locksmiths and safe repairers1,420 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $43,860$21.09/hr |
| 76 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners2,430 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $43,860$21.09/hr |
| 77 | Tapers220 jobs · −36% vs U.S. | $43,670$21.00/hr |
| 78 | Carpet installers810 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $43,610$20.97/hr |
| 79 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles1,480 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $43,070$20.71/hr |
| 80 | Construction laborers123,250 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $40,620$19.53/hr |
| 81 | Floor sanders and finishers140 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $40,120$19.29/hr |
| 82 | Bicycle repairers390 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $37,690$18.12/hr |
| 83 | Fence erectors1,800 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $37,270$17.92/hr |
| 84 | Tire repairers and changers14,170 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $36,060$17.34/hr |
| 85 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers700 jobs · −24% vs U.S. | $34,910$16.78/hr |
| 86 | Camera and photographic equipment repairers90 jobs · −36% vs U.S. | $33,940$16.32/hr |
Linked trades have full Texas pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in Texas, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a Texas median for 2 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in Texas?
- Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay, with a median of $102,470 a year ($49.26 an hour) in Texas, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Texas?
- 2 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Texas: electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($102,470), elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($102,140).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Texas?
- 51 of the 86 trades ranked here have a median above $48,620, the median for all occupations in Texas.
- Do trades pay more in Texas than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 12 of the 86 trades have a higher median in Texas than nationally. The biggest gap is radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers: $77,910, 23% above the U.S. median of $63,520.
- Which trade employs the most people in Texas?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 140,580 jobs and a median of $46,670 a year.