What the trades pay in Texas

Median hourly pay by trade and city. Tap a trade for newer and top earners, union rates and rates workers add.

Top-paying trades in Texas

Texas median, all workersTop union scale (plus benefits)

1.Lineman$37.95
2.Millwright$30.11union $32.02
3.Plumber$28.77union $39.98
4.Pipefitter$28.77union $42.09
5.CNC Machinist$28.45
6.Diesel Mechanic$28.27
7.Electrician$28.16union $38.50
8.HVAC Tech$27.77union $39.76
9.Mason$27.12
10.CDL Driver$27.06
11.Welder$25.64
12.Ironworker$25.12union $29.64
13.Heavy Equipment Operator$24.26union $39.47
14.Carpenter$23.51union $33.27
15.Auto Technician$23.23
16.Maintenance Technician$22.44
17.Roofer$22.13
18.Painter$21.86union $16.40

Median an hour: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Union scale: the highest union rate the U.S. Department of Labor lists for the trade in Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar or Travis County (Davis-Bacon), before benefits. Tap a trade for newer and top earners and every rate.

Every trade by city

Trade	Texas	Houston	Dallas–Fort Worth	San Antonio	Austin
Electrician	$28.16	$28.45	$28.37	$27.41	$29.03
Plumber	$28.77	$29.47	$29.45	$27.97	$30.20
HVAC Tech	$27.77	$28.34	$28.63	$28.17	$29.24
Welder	$25.64	$27.86	$24.82	$23.18	$28.39
Pipefitter	$28.77	$29.47	$29.45	$27.97	$30.20
Carpenter	$23.51	$23.88	$23.44	$23.51	$24.16
Heavy Equipment Operator	$24.26	$24.54	$24.70	$23.44	$24.50
Diesel Mechanic	$28.27	$29.22	$29.04	$28.18	$29.36
Auto Technician	$23.23	$24.49	$23.90	$22.54	$24.33
CNC Machinist	$28.45	$29.46	$28.76	$25.57	$28.38
Lineman	$37.95	$39.77	$37.46	$37.52	$39.48
Millwright	$30.11	$32.57	$31.49	$28.56	—
Ironworker	$25.12	$27.90	$25.77	$24.10	$28.84
Roofer	$22.13	$21.87	$22.59	$21.02	$22.76
Mason	$27.12	$27.12	$28.56	$27.20	$28.98
Painter	$21.86	$22.18	$21.90	$20.88	$22.38
Maintenance Technician	$22.44	$22.46	$23.49	$21.82	$23.43
CDL Driver	$27.06	$27.33	$28.62	$25.79	$27.46

Median an hour, for all workers in the occupation. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. bls.gov/oes ↗

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