What this means Our calculation
8 of 28 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is elevator installers at $100,350. Prices run 10% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is higher than most metros (5.3%) and the population is growing slowly (+0.5% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Beaumont Government data
All 28 trades
Vs. U.S. compares with the typical metro for that trade. Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Click a column to sort.
| Trade | Median pay | Vs. U.S. | Real pay | Jobs | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator Installer | $100,350 | -7% | $111,443 | 70 | #43 |
| Electrical Lineworker | $80,500 | -17% | $89,399 | 320 | #189 |
| Construction Supervisor | $76,390 | -1% | $84,834 | 2,460 | #218 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $65,440 | -1% | $72,674 | 90 | #121 |
| Rigger | $63,950 | +6% | $71,019 | 210 | #32 |
| Building Inspector | $62,390 | -7% | $69,287 | 270 | #242 |
| Plumber | $62,220 | +1% | $69,098 | 1,250 | #179 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $61,950 | -3% | $68,798 | 1,430 | #265 |
| Electrician | $61,380 | -2% | $68,165 | 2,000 | #218 |
| Rebar Worker | $60,320 | +6% | $66,988 | 200 | #10 |
| Machinist | $59,800 | +5% | $66,411 | 520 | #109 |
| Welder | $59,190 | +13% | $65,733 | 1,980 | #70 |
| Carpenter | $58,290 | +4% | $64,734 | 1,000 | #168 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $57,380 | -8% | $63,723 | 100 | #273 |
| Ironworker | $57,220 | -11% | $63,545 | 310 | #115 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $57,050 | -5% | $63,357 | 340 | #293 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $56,850 | -5% | $63,134 | 1,120 | #223 |
| HVAC Technician | $56,720 | -5% | $62,990 | 390 | #267 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $54,330 | +5% | $60,336 | 150 | #154 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $54,130 | +8% | $60,114 | 80 | #60 |
| Concrete Finisher | $48,310 | -16% | $53,650 | 250 | #239 |
| Insulation Installer | $47,610 | -1% | $52,873 | 200 | #61 |
| Auto Mechanic | $47,050 | -4% | $52,251 | 890 | #281 |
| Painter | $45,840 | -4% | $50,907 | 530 | #247 |
| Maintenance Technician | $45,210 | -6% | $50,208 | 1,750 | #312 |
| Construction Laborer | $44,240 | -6% | $49,130 | 3,340 | #258 |
| Pest Control Technician | $36,900 | -17% | $40,979 | 150 | #218 |
| Landscaper | $34,740 | -7% | $38,580 | 550 | #347 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Beaumont
The Beaumont area has about 175,506 homes. 46% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is about as old as most; 16% were built in 2010 or later. 70% of households own their home, and the median home value is $181,700.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Beaumont Government data
In an average year, Beaumont has 95 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 1 at 100°F or more, 13 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 72 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more. Summer afternoons average 92°F and winter nights 44°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Beaumont Rsch Ctr, TX station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
5.3% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Beaumont area's population grew 0.5% from 2020 to 2025 (397,257 → 399,310), ranking #274 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +376) account for part of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Beaumont are down 39% from 2021 to 2025 (1,585 → 960). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Beaumont area is 24 minutes each way, about the same as the typical metro (24 min). 11% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 82% drive alone, 0% take transit and 4% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in Texas Official source
The main state licensing office in Texas is the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Plumbers are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official Texas licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 4.9% of wage and salary workers in Texas were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#41 of 51 states and D.C.), and 5.8% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only the trades.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Nearby metros
Compare any trade in two cities with city vs. city, or see every metro in Texas.