What this means Our calculation
2 of 37 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is elevator installers at $103,700. Prices run 5% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is about the same as most metros (4.0%) and the population is growing faster than most (+9.5% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in San Antonio Government data
All 37 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 | $103,700 | -4% | $109,485 | 220 | #39 |
| Electrical Lineworker | $78,030 | -19% | $82,383 | 1,310 | #215 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $74,260 | +12% | $78,403 | 910 | #103 |
| Construction Supervisor | $73,520 | -5% | $77,622 | 6,170 | #277 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $62,400 | +23% | $65,881 | 160 | #14 |
| Building Inspector | $62,110 | -8% | $65,575 | 1,450 | #248 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $61,030 | -2% | $64,435 | 660 | #196 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $60,760 | -5% | $64,150 | 2,950 | #298 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $58,620 | -3% | $61,890 | 2,160 | #252 |
| HVAC Technician | $58,590 | -2% | $61,859 | 3,160 | #228 |
| Plumber | $58,180 | -5% | $61,426 | 3,190 | #264 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $57,380 | -7% | $60,581 | 680 | #167 |
| Electrician | $57,010 | -9% | $60,190 | 6,660 | #308 |
| Brickmason | $56,580 | -10% | $59,736 | 400 | #109 |
| Machinist | $53,190 | -7% | $56,157 | 750 | #239 |
| Rigger | $50,480 | -16% | $53,296 | 340 | #57 |
| Ironworker | $50,120 | -22% | $52,916 | 510 | #130 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $49,440 | -4% | $52,198 | 1,400 | #227 |
| Carpenter | $48,900 | -13% | $51,628 | 2,240 | #289 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $48,750 | -18% | $51,470 | 3,980 | #306 |
| Welder | $48,220 | -8% | $50,910 | 2,510 | #309 |
| Glazier | $47,730 | -14% | $50,393 | 480 | #119 |
| Insulation Installer | $47,070 | -3% | $49,696 | 370 | #73 |
| Concrete Finisher | $47,010 | -18% | $49,633 | 1,960 | #269 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $46,960 | -6% | $49,580 | 330 | #109 |
| Auto Mechanic | $46,880 | -4% | $49,495 | 6,320 | #287 |
| Drywall Installer | $46,550 | -14% | $49,147 | 290 | #144 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $46,510 | -9% | $49,105 | 230 | #114 |
| Maintenance Technician | $45,380 | -6% | $47,912 | 11,450 | #303 |
| Tile Setter | $44,690 | -11% | $47,183 | 90 | #109 |
| Roofer | $43,720 | -13% | $46,159 | 350 | #247 |
| Painter | $43,430 | -9% | $45,853 | 960 | #295 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $43,170 | -10% | $45,578 | 290 | #117 |
| Construction Laborer | $39,390 | -16% | $41,587 | 8,400 | #313 |
| Flooring Installer | $38,870 | -30% | $41,038 | 90 | #69 |
| Pest Control Technician | $37,410 | -16% | $39,497 | 730 | #211 |
| Landscaper | $35,630 | -5% | $37,618 | 3,760 | #318 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in San Antonio
The San Antonio area has about 1,096,723 homes. 30% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 28% were built in 2010 or later. 63% of households own their home, and the median home value is $304,800.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in San Antonio Government data
In an average year, San Antonio has 134 days at 90°F or hotter (more than most metros; typical metro 33), including 34 at 100°F or more, 14 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 39 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more. Summer afternoons average 96°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, San Antonio Stinson Airport, TX station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
4.0% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The San Antonio area's population grew 9.5% from 2020 to 2025 (2,568,772 → 2,813,140), ranking #40 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +194,202) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in San Antonio are down 53% from 2021 to 2025 (22,264 → 10,546). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the San Antonio area is 28 minutes each way, longer than the typical metro (24 min). 16% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 70% drive alone, 1% take transit and 13% 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.