What this means Our calculation
9 of 41 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is elevator installers at $108,150. Prices run 3% above the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth less than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is about the same as most metros (3.9%) and the population is growing faster than most (+10.6% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Dallas Government data
All 41 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 | $108,150 | -0% | $104,908 | 500 | #29 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $78,580 | +19% | $76,225 | 3,030 | #75 |
| Electrical Lineworker | $77,910 | -20% | $75,575 | 3,930 | #217 |
| Construction Supervisor | $76,230 | -1% | $73,945 | 21,530 | #222 |
| Building Inspector | $69,020 | +2% | $66,951 | 5,450 | #155 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $63,380 | -1% | $61,480 | 12,730 | #212 |
| Plumber | $61,250 | -0% | $59,414 | 11,980 | #200 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $60,390 | +0% | $58,580 | 7,940 | #193 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $60,340 | -3% | $58,531 | 4,680 | #214 |
| Machinist | $59,830 | +5% | $58,037 | 4,660 | #107 |
| HVAC Technician | $59,560 | -0% | $57,775 | 10,910 | #196 |
| Brickmason | $59,400 | -6% | $57,620 | 1,590 | #95 |
| Electrician | $59,010 | -5% | $57,241 | 20,930 | #265 |
| Wind Turbine Technician | $57,890 | -9% | $56,155 | 400 | #8 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $57,280 | +11% | $55,563 | 4,080 | #96 |
| Plasterer | $56,990 | -3% | $55,282 | 460 | #36 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $56,240 | -8% | $54,554 | 2,890 | #172 |
| Ironworker | $53,600 | -16% | $51,993 | 2,850 | #123 |
| Welder | $51,630 | -1% | $50,082 | 10,620 | #206 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $51,370 | -14% | $49,830 | 11,510 | #253 |
| Rebar Worker | $50,910 | -10% | $49,384 | 760 | #17 |
| Rigger | $50,840 | -16% | $49,316 | 660 | #56 |
| Insulation Installer | $49,930 | +3% | $48,433 | 2,100 | #40 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $49,740 | -0% | $48,249 | 940 | #79 |
| Auto Mechanic | $49,720 | +2% | $48,230 | 17,690 | #170 |
| Glazier | $49,450 | -10% | $47,968 | 1,980 | #98 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $49,350 | -2% | $47,871 | 870 | #71 |
| Maintenance Technician | $48,860 | +1% | $47,395 | 39,740 | #174 |
| Concrete Finisher | $48,770 | -15% | $47,308 | 7,920 | #236 |
| Carpenter | $48,740 | -13% | $47,279 | 9,480 | #293 |
| Solar Installer | $48,350 | -17% | $46,901 | 1,570 | #33 |
| Drywall Installer | $48,220 | -10% | $46,775 | 1,870 | #122 |
| Tile Setter | $47,920 | -5% | $46,484 | 430 | #75 |
| Roofer | $46,990 | -6% | $45,582 | 2,180 | #201 |
| Painter | $45,550 | -4% | $44,185 | 4,570 | #255 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $45,240 | -11% | $43,884 | 450 | #123 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $44,420 | -8% | $43,089 | 1,410 | #113 |
| Construction Laborer | $43,960 | -6% | $42,642 | 29,670 | #261 |
| Flooring Installer | $43,950 | -21% | $42,633 | 380 | #67 |
| Pest Control Technician | $38,330 | -14% | $37,181 | 2,870 | #188 |
| Landscaper | $37,680 | +0% | $36,551 | 19,750 | #189 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Dallas
The Dallas area has about 3,235,415 homes. 28% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 26% were built in 2010 or later. 60% of households own their home, and the median home value is $389,500.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Dallas Government data
In an average year, Dallas has 106 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 20 at 100°F or more, 29 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 52 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 2 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 94°F and winter nights 38°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Dallas Ft Worth Airport, TX station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
3.9% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Dallas area's population grew 10.6% from 2020 to 2025 (7,667,416 → 8,477,157), ranking #30 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +579,862) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Dallas are down 16% from 2021 to 2025 (78,705 → 66,179). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Dallas area is 29 minutes each way, longer than the typical metro (24 min). 20% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 70% drive alone, 1% take transit and 16% 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.