Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$28.77/hr ($59,840/yr) · typical $22.78 to $35.63
Openings: 4,220/yrApprentices: 3,446
Texas trade pay
Texas trade pay runs from $17.66/hr for landscapers to $28.77/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers earn the most at $28.77/hr ($59,840/yr). The state expects about 65,090 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 14,073 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$28.77/hr
Plumbers
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
65,090
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
14,073
FY2024
Tracked metros
3
Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston
State signals
What stands out in Texas
Every tracked trade pays below its national median in Texas; welders come closest, at 1% below the national $25.84/hr.
Maintenance workers lead Texas hiring demand with about 16,100 openings a year, 25% of the 65,090 annual trade openings projected statewide.
Texas ranks #1 nationally for active electricians apprentices, with 8,133 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in Texas
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Electricians
$28.16/hr ($58,570/yr) · typical $22.44 to $34.20
Openings: 8,100/yrApprentices: 8,133
HVAC Technicians
$27.77/hr ($57,760/yr) · typical $22.50 to $33.59
Openings: 3,350/yrApprentices: 376
Welders
$25.64/hr ($53,340/yr) · typical $21.99 to $31.14
Openings: 6,300/yrApprentices: 420
Carpenters
$23.51/hr ($48,900/yr) · typical $21.48 to $27.78
Openings: 3,840/yrApprentices: 751
Automotive Service Technicians
$23.23/hr ($48,310/yr) · typical $17.62 to $29.94
Openings: 7,480/yrApprentices: 457
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$22.44/hr ($46,670/yr) · typical $18.11 to $28.45
Openings: 16,100/yrApprentices: 267
Roofers
$22.13/hr ($46,030/yr) · typical $18.00 to $25.78
Openings: 600/yrApprentices: 43
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$21.86/hr ($45,460/yr) · typical $18.78 to $23.74
Openings: 2,370/yrApprentices: 131
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$17.66/hr ($36,740/yr) · typical $15.68 to $19.84
Openings: 12,730/yrApprentices: 49
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025. Openings: Projections Central, 2024-2034 average annual openings. Apprentices: DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024 active apprentices; trades the DOL did not publish show n/a.
Metro pay pages
Texas metros with trade pay pages
City-level BLS pay with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates.
- Dallas-Fort WorthTrade pay in Dallas-Fort Worth
- HoustonTrade pay in Houston
- San AntonioTrade pay in San Antonio
Apprenticeship pipeline
Registered apprentices in Texas
14,073 active apprentices across all 10 trades, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Electricians8,133
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters3,446
Carpenters751
Automotive Service Technicians457
Welders420
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
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Texas trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in Texas?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in Texas ranges from $17.66/hr for landscapers to $28.77/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers top the ranking at $28.77/hr, equal to $59,840/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in Texas?
Plumbers lead Texas at a median $28.77/hr ($59,840/yr a year), ahead of electricians at $28.16/hr. The full ranking below covers all 10 tracked trades from BLS OEWS May 2025 statewide data. Union scale, shift differentials, and overtime can push actual take-home above these medians.
How many trade job openings are there in Texas?
Projections Central expects about 65,090 trade openings a year in Texas from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Maintenance workers lead with about 16,100 a year, followed by landscapers at 12,730. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in Texas?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 14,073 active trade apprentices in Texas in FY2024, including 8,133 electricians. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which Texas cities pay trades workers the most?
Of the tracked metros in Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth pays plumbers the most at $29.45/hr. Each metro pay page breaks down all 10 trades with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates. Statewide medians above blend every metro and rural area together into one statewide figure.