What this means Our calculation
8 of 40 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is elevator installers at $104,350. Prices run 1% 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 (4.5%) and the population is growing faster than most (+10.3% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Houston Government data
All 40 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 | $104,350 | -4% | $105,801 | 540 | #37 |
| Electrical Lineworker | $82,710 | -15% | $83,860 | 4,380 | #172 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $76,950 | +16% | $78,020 | 2,040 | #89 |
| Construction Supervisor | $76,020 | -2% | $77,077 | 24,570 | #228 |
| Building Inspector | $66,780 | -1% | $67,708 | 4,980 | #177 |
| Rigger | $64,430 | +7% | $65,326 | 1,140 | #29 |
| Wind Turbine Technician | $64,050 | +1% | $64,940 | 1,120 | #4 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $63,180 | -1% | $64,058 | 18,360 | #217 |
| Plumber | $61,300 | -0% | $62,152 | 10,980 | #198 |
| Machinist | $61,280 | +7% | $62,132 | 8,140 | #71 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $60,770 | +1% | $61,615 | 7,410 | #175 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $59,850 | -4% | $60,682 | 2,850 | #225 |
| Electrician | $59,180 | -5% | $60,003 | 19,730 | #262 |
| HVAC Technician | $58,940 | -1% | $59,759 | 7,680 | #217 |
| Ironworker | $58,030 | -9% | $58,837 | 3,000 | #107 |
| Welder | $57,940 | +11% | $58,745 | 15,850 | #96 |
| Brickmason | $56,410 | -10% | $57,194 | 1,090 | #111 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $56,060 | +8% | $56,839 | 3,410 | #125 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $51,870 | -16% | $52,591 | 2,610 | #191 |
| Rebar Worker | $51,860 | -9% | $52,581 | 1,500 | #16 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $51,040 | -14% | $51,749 | 14,000 | #257 |
| Auto Mechanic | $50,940 | +4% | $51,648 | 14,910 | #141 |
| Plasterer | $49,910 | -15% | $50,604 | 360 | #44 |
| Carpenter | $49,670 | -12% | $50,360 | 9,600 | #265 |
| Glazier | $48,340 | -12% | $49,012 | 1,370 | #107 |
| Insulation Installer | $48,140 | -0% | $48,809 | 2,430 | #56 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $47,750 | -6% | $48,414 | 430 | #84 |
| Drywall Installer | $47,610 | -12% | $48,272 | 1,640 | #131 |
| Solar Installer | $47,060 | -19% | $47,714 | 1,620 | #38 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $46,790 | -6% | $47,440 | 870 | #112 |
| Maintenance Technician | $46,710 | -3% | $47,359 | 32,050 | #253 |
| Concrete Finisher | $46,600 | -19% | $47,248 | 7,700 | #275 |
| Painter | $46,140 | -3% | $46,781 | 4,970 | #238 |
| Roofer | $45,500 | -9% | $46,132 | 1,230 | #234 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $43,200 | -10% | $43,801 | 1,280 | #116 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $43,120 | -15% | $43,719 | 440 | #135 |
| Flooring Installer | $43,020 | -23% | $43,618 | 380 | #68 |
| Construction Laborer | $41,350 | -12% | $41,925 | 34,080 | #299 |
| Pest Control Technician | $37,200 | -16% | $37,717 | 2,170 | #216 |
| Landscaper | $36,280 | -3% | $36,784 | 14,840 | #281 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Houston
The Houston area has about 3,044,006 homes. 29% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 27% were built in 2010 or later. 61% of households own their home, and the median home value is $327,400.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Houston Government data
In an average year, Houston has 100 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 3 at 100°F or more, 4 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 66 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more. Summer afternoons average 92°F and winter nights 48°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Houston Hobby Airport, TX station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
4.5% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Houston area's population grew 10.3% from 2020 to 2025 (7,169,284 → 7,904,627), ranking #35 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +517,047) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Houston are down 6% from 2021 to 2025 (69,263 → 65,075). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Houston area is 31 minutes each way, longer than the typical metro (24 min). 25% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 72% drive alone, 2% take transit and 12% 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.