Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Texas
Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianTexas | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Real change since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $136,020 | $68,750 – $268,450 | -17.3%+4.2% nominal |
| 2 | General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree | $103,230 | $46,190 – $264,620 | -17.3%+4.2% nominal |
| 3 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $72,520 | $37,640 – $135,710 | -14.0%+8.4% nominal |
| 4 | Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree | $62,330 | $50,030 – $74,240 | -13.8%+8.6% nominal |
| 5 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree | $63,590 | $50,410 – $78,020 | -12.7%+10.0% nominal |
| 6 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential | $21,550 | $15,710 – $35,540 | -12.6%+10.1% nominal |
| 7 | First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $36,480 | $28,010 – $61,560 | -12.5%+10.1% nominal |
| 8 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $65,970 | $36,380 – $137,020 | -12.4%+10.3% nominal |
| 9 | First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $60,000 | $38,900 – $95,030 | -12.1%+10.7% nominal |
| 10 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree | $62,760 | $48,500 – $73,570 | -11.9%+11.0% nominal |
| 11 | Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree | $80,920 | $53,380 – $132,040 | -11.9%+10.9% nominal |
| 12 | Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree | $68,920 | $43,410 – $117,060 | -11.7%+11.1% nominal |
| 13 | Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award | $48,310 | $29,360 – $81,720 | -11.6%+11.3% nominal |
| 14 | Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree | $63,390 | $51,410 – $75,750 | -10.9%+12.2% nominal |
| 15 | Construction ManagersBachelor's degree | $101,470 | $64,040 – $166,800 | -10.8%+12.4% nominal |
| 16 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $70,140 | $43,360 – $115,230 | -10.4%+12.8% nominal |
| 17 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,280 | $28,780 – $74,840 | -10.1%+13.2% nominal |
| 18 | Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent | $39,000 | $24,570 – $61,190 | -9.9%+13.4% nominal |
| 19 | BartendersNo formal educational credential | $22,690 | $16,200 – $65,300 | -9.5%+14.0% nominal |
| 20 | Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $61,930 | $41,580 – $95,770 | -9.1%+14.5% nominal |
| 21 | ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent | $58,570 | $37,920 – $80,300 | -9.0%+14.6% nominal |
| 22 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $171,530 | $106,390 – $277,160 | -8.2%+15.6% nominal |
| 23 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent | $61,680 | $33,360 – $127,930 | -7.3%+16.7% nominal |
| 24 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $76,760 | $46,860 – $125,700 | -7.3%+16.7% nominal |
| 25 | Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $114,150 | $65,520 – $205,600 | -7.1%+17.0% nominal |
| 26 | Management AnalystsBachelor's degree | $101,400 | $62,730 – $168,420 | -6.6%+17.6% nominal |
| 27 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $64,940 | $43,320 – $103,540 | -6.5%+17.7% nominal |
| 28 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,210 | $32,200 – $78,560 | -5.6%+18.8% nominal |
| 29 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $74,520 | $48,000 – $109,460 | -5.5%+18.9% nominal |
| 30 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $50,460 | $38,900 – $70,010 | -5.1%+19.5% nominal |
| 31 | Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $24,230 | $21,980 – $31,560 | -4.5%+20.3% nominal |
| 32 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree | $48,910 | $33,480 – $72,810 | -4.4%+20.4% nominal |
| 33 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $75,900 | $51,240 – $98,350 | -4.3%+20.6% nominal |
| 34 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $53,340 | $38,380 – $80,240 | -4.1%+20.8% nominal |
| 35 | Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent | $42,500 | $28,120 – $91,280 | -3.8%+21.2% nominal |
| 36 | Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $40,420 | $29,320 – $59,590 | -2.0%+23.4% nominal |
| 37 | Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award | $39,520 | $31,200 – $49,260 | -1.9%+23.6% nominal |
| 38 | Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential | $23,240 | $17,070 – $47,590 | -1.8%+23.6% nominal |
| 39 | Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree | $59,490 | $38,690 – $90,140 | -1.5%+24.0% nominal |
| 40 | Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential | $40,620 | $32,560 – $56,930 | -1.0%+24.7% nominal |
| 41 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $154,200 | $79,340 – $349,490 | -0.7%+25.0% nominal |
| 42 | Receptionists and Information ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $35,210 | $24,700 – $47,380 | +0.6%+26.7% nominal |
| 43 | Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential | $30,650 | $22,790 – $42,450 | +0.9%+27.1% nominal |
| 44 | Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $42,190 | $31,030 – $58,940 | +0.9%+27.0% nominal |
| 45 | Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential | $36,740 | $28,810 – $47,910 | +1.4%+27.7% nominal |
| 46 | Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,670 | $30,950 – $74,220 | +1.4%+27.7% nominal |
| 47 | Medical Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $42,910 | $33,090 – $56,570 | +1.6%+27.9% nominal |
| 48 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $164,860 | $98,250 – $309,290 | +1.8%+28.2% nominal |
| 49 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award | $56,290 | $38,150 – $79,400 | +2.5%+29.0% nominal |
| 50 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent | $45,140 | $29,810 – $63,020 | +2.5%+29.1% nominal |