Jobs that actually got a raise in Texas

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Texas run 2.9% below the national average (2024), so a Texas salary is worth about 1.03× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Texas.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Texas

OccupationMedian, Texas · Real change since 2019

1Skincare Specialists$49,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,390 – $84,180+55.1%+95.3% nominal
2Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,430 – $80,110+23.8%+55.9% nominal
3Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$41,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,780 – $59,540+23.4%+55.4% nominal
4Passenger Attendants$31,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,290 – $35,700+21.6%+53.2% nominal
5Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$75,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,540 – $102,500+17.3%+47.7% nominal
6Medical Transcriptionists$42,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$22,540 – $49,410+17.1%+47.5% nominal
7Driver/Sales Workers$35,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$18,290 – $60,020+16.3%+46.4% nominal
8Food Processing Workers, All Other$40,150
No formal educational credential
$30,750 – $46,610+16.3%+46.4% nominal
9Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$55,670
Bachelor's degree
$23,660 – $64,160+16.3%+46.4% nominal
10Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$78,470
Bachelor's degree
$48,160 – $214,220+15.9%+46.0% nominal
11Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$48,400
Bachelor's degree
$31,040 – $71,910+15.8%+45.8% nominal
12Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$32,040
Bachelor's degree
$22,870 – $39,090+15.8%+45.8% nominal
13Packers and Packagers, Hand$33,090
No formal educational credential
$23,550 – $44,220+15.4%+45.3% nominal
14Couriers and Messengers$39,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,900 – $49,490+15.3%+45.2% nominal
15Animal Caretakers$32,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,260 – $49,660+14.6%+44.3% nominal
16Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$35,360
No formal educational credential
$24,770 – $44,840+14.2%+43.9% nominal
17Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$58,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,690 – $89,360+13.1%+42.4% nominal
18Recreation Workers$32,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,910 – $47,870+13.0%+42.3% nominal
19Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$29,450
No formal educational credential
$22,580 – $41,740+12.9%+42.1% nominal
20Computer Hardware Engineers$163,860
Bachelor's degree
$92,940 – $216,260+12.3%+41.4% nominal
21Cooks, All Other$32,150
No formal educational credential
$25,600 – $41,570+11.9%+40.9% nominal
22Mechanical Drafters$79,380
Associate's degree
$52,000 – $106,080+11.9%+41.0% nominal
23Speech-Language Pathologists$99,910
Master's degree
$66,370 – $132,990+11.3%+40.2% nominal
24Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$77,840
No formal educational credential
$47,840 – $121,470+11.1%+39.9% nominal
25Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$29,300
No formal educational credential
$21,930 – $36,930+10.5%+39.1% nominal
26Bakers$33,790
No formal educational credential
$24,430 – $44,020+10.5%+39.1% nominal
27Nursing Assistants$37,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,620 – $47,500+10.2%+38.8% nominal
28Parking Attendants$31,200
No formal educational credential
$23,960 – $40,240+10.2%+38.7% nominal
29Medical Equipment Preparers$46,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,390 – $69,950+10.1%+38.6% nominal
30Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$30,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,580 – $59,730+9.5%+37.9% nominal
31Fast Food and Counter Workers$27,740
No formal educational credential
$21,710 – $35,680+9.4%+37.8% nominal
32Glaziers$47,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,500 – $59,990+9.1%+37.4% nominal
33Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$43,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,930 – $58,130+9.1%+37.4% nominal
34Dishwashers$29,610
No formal educational credential
$21,920 – $36,720+9.0%+37.3% nominal
35Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$38,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,990 – $57,190+8.9%+37.1% nominal
36Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$37,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,860 – $49,980+8.4%+36.5% nominal
37Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,010
No formal educational credential
$23,450 – $45,950+8.3%+36.4% nominal
38Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$27,080
No formal educational credential
$17,270 – $36,870+8.2%+36.2% nominal
39Wellhead Pumpers$75,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,090 – $97,640+8.2%+36.2% nominal
40Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$43,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,940 – $58,820+8.0%+36.0% nominal
41Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$29,850
Some college, no degree
$22,480 – $42,520+8.0%+36.1% nominal
42Cooks, Fast Food$28,280
No formal educational credential
$20,800 – $39,140+7.9%+35.9% nominal
43Food Batchmakers$37,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,410 – $53,100+7.7%+35.7% nominal
44Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $107,550+7.5%+35.4% nominal
45Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$46,330
No formal educational credential
$30,830 – $59,380+7.5%+35.3% nominal
46Childcare Workers$28,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,750 – $37,290+7.4%+35.3% nominal
47Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$34,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,070 – $46,890+7.3%+35.2% nominal
48Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$64,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$43,000 – $131,330+7.2%+35.1% nominal
49Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,660
No formal educational credential
$22,150 – $37,300+7.1%+34.9% nominal
50Surgical Technologists$65,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,950 – $92,580+7.1%+34.8% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianTexas	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,250	$27,390 – $84,180	+55.1%+95.3% nominal
2	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,050	$33,430 – $80,110	+23.8%+55.9% nominal
3	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,140	$29,780 – $59,540	+23.4%+55.4% nominal
4	Passenger AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,230	$28,290 – $35,700	+21.6%+53.2% nominal
5	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,740	$46,540 – $102,500	+17.3%+47.7% nominal
6	Medical TranscriptionistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$42,900	$22,540 – $49,410	+17.1%+47.5% nominal
7	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,850	$18,290 – $60,020	+16.3%+46.4% nominal
8	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$40,150	$30,750 – $46,610	+16.3%+46.4% nominal
9	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$55,670	$23,660 – $64,160	+16.3%+46.4% nominal
10	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$78,470	$48,160 – $214,220	+15.9%+46.0% nominal
11	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$48,400	$31,040 – $71,910	+15.8%+45.8% nominal
12	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$32,040	$22,870 – $39,090	+15.8%+45.8% nominal
13	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$33,090	$23,550 – $44,220	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
14	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,260	$30,900 – $49,490	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
15	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32,730	$23,260 – $49,660	+14.6%+44.3% nominal
16	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$35,360	$24,770 – $44,840	+14.2%+43.9% nominal
17	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,230	$39,690 – $89,360	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
18	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32,720	$22,910 – $47,870	+13.0%+42.3% nominal
19	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$29,450	$22,580 – $41,740	+12.9%+42.1% nominal
20	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$163,860	$92,940 – $216,260	+12.3%+41.4% nominal
21	Cooks, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$32,150	$25,600 – $41,570	+11.9%+40.9% nominal
22	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$79,380	$52,000 – $106,080	+11.9%+41.0% nominal
23	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$99,910	$66,370 – $132,990	+11.3%+40.2% nominal
24	Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$77,840	$47,840 – $121,470	+11.1%+39.9% nominal
25	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$29,300	$21,930 – $36,930	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
26	BakersNo formal educational credential	$33,790	$24,430 – $44,020	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
27	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,500	$30,620 – $47,500	+10.2%+38.8% nominal
28	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$31,200	$23,960 – $40,240	+10.2%+38.7% nominal
29	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,970	$35,390 – $69,950	+10.1%+38.6% nominal
30	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$30,680	$23,580 – $59,730	+9.5%+37.9% nominal
31	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$27,740	$21,710 – $35,680	+9.4%+37.8% nominal
32	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,730	$35,500 – $59,990	+9.1%+37.4% nominal
33	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,640	$31,930 – $58,130	+9.1%+37.4% nominal
34	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$29,610	$21,920 – $36,720	+9.0%+37.3% nominal
35	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,950	$28,990 – $57,190	+8.9%+37.1% nominal
36	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,260	$29,860 – $49,980	+8.4%+36.5% nominal
37	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$33,010	$23,450 – $45,950	+8.3%+36.4% nominal
38	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$27,080	$17,270 – $36,870	+8.2%+36.2% nominal
39	Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,860	$45,090 – $97,640	+8.2%+36.2% nominal
40	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,980	$26,940 – $58,820	+8.0%+36.0% nominal
41	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$29,850	$22,480 – $42,520	+8.0%+36.1% nominal
42	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$28,280	$20,800 – $39,140	+7.9%+35.9% nominal
43	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,500	$22,410 – $53,100	+7.7%+35.7% nominal
44	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,940	$46,760 – $107,550	+7.5%+35.4% nominal
45	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$46,330	$30,830 – $59,380	+7.5%+35.3% nominal
46	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,570	$21,750 – $37,290	+7.4%+35.3% nominal
47	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,850	$24,070 – $46,890	+7.3%+35.2% nominal
48	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$64,110	$43,000 – $131,330	+7.2%+35.1% nominal
49	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$29,660	$22,150 – $37,300	+7.1%+34.9% nominal
50	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,220	$39,950 – $92,580	+7.1%+34.8% nominal

More for Texas

Metro areas in Texas

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Texas

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Texas to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Texas

More for Texas

Metro areas in Texas

By field in Texas

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state