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.
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianTexas | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Real change since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award | $37,500 | $30,620 – $47,500 | +10.2%+38.8% nominal |
| 2 | Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential | $27,740 | $21,710 – $35,680 | +9.4%+37.8% nominal |
| 3 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential | $33,010 | $23,450 – $45,950 | +8.3%+36.4% nominal |
| 4 | Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree | $29,850 | $22,480 – $42,520 | +8.0%+36.1% nominal |
| 5 | Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential | $29,660 | $22,150 – $37,300 | +7.1%+34.9% nominal |
| 6 | Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential | $36,840 | $28,870 – $47,180 | +7.0%+34.7% nominal |
| 7 | Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential | $45,450 | $34,300 – $59,780 | +6.2%+33.8% nominal |
| 8 | Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential | $34,760 | $23,330 – $42,810 | +6.0%+33.4% nominal |
| 9 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award | $62,240 | $48,910 – $76,140 | +5.5%+32.8% nominal |
| 10 | Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree | $111,530 | $55,480 – $174,300 | +5.4%+32.7% nominal |
| 11 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential | $37,540 | $29,250 – $50,140 | +5.3%+32.6% nominal |
| 12 | Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $38,320 | $29,120 – $58,280 | +5.2%+32.5% nominal |
| 13 | Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $35,980 | $26,950 – $50,740 | +4.3%+31.4% nominal |
| 14 | Registered NursesBachelor's degree | $95,970 | $67,120 – $127,950 | +3.8%+30.7% nominal |
| 15 | CashiersNo formal educational credential | $29,230 | $22,090 – $36,980 | +3.5%+30.4% nominal |
| 16 | Retail SalespersonsNo formal educational credential | $30,800 | $23,330 – $45,080 | +3.1%+29.8% nominal |
| 17 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent | $45,140 | $29,810 – $63,020 | +2.5%+29.1% nominal |
| 18 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award | $56,290 | $38,150 – $79,400 | +2.5%+29.0% nominal |
| 19 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $164,860 | $98,250 – $309,290 | +1.8%+28.2% nominal |
| 20 | Medical Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $42,910 | $33,090 – $56,570 | +1.6%+27.9% nominal |
| 21 | Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential | $36,740 | $28,810 – $47,910 | +1.4%+27.7% nominal |
| 22 | Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,670 | $30,950 – $74,220 | +1.4%+27.7% nominal |
| 23 | Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $42,190 | $31,030 – $58,940 | +0.9%+27.0% nominal |
| 24 | Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential | $30,650 | $22,790 – $42,450 | +0.9%+27.1% nominal |
| 25 | Receptionists and Information ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $35,210 | $24,700 – $47,380 | +0.6%+26.7% nominal |
| 26 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $154,200 | $79,340 – $349,490 | -0.7%+25.0% nominal |
| 27 | Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential | $40,620 | $32,560 – $56,930 | -1.0%+24.7% nominal |
| 28 | Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree | $59,490 | $38,690 – $90,140 | -1.5%+24.0% nominal |
| 29 | Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential | $23,240 | $17,070 – $47,590 | -1.8%+23.6% nominal |
| 30 | Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award | $39,520 | $31,200 – $49,260 | -1.9%+23.6% nominal |
| 31 | Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $40,420 | $29,320 – $59,590 | -2.0%+23.4% nominal |
| 32 | Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent | $42,500 | $28,120 – $91,280 | -3.8%+21.2% nominal |
| 33 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $53,340 | $38,380 – $80,240 | -4.1%+20.8% nominal |
| 34 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $75,900 | $51,240 – $98,350 | -4.3%+20.6% nominal |
| 35 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree | $48,910 | $33,480 – $72,810 | -4.4%+20.4% nominal |
| 36 | Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $24,230 | $21,980 – $31,560 | -4.5%+20.3% nominal |
| 37 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $50,460 | $38,900 – $70,010 | -5.1%+19.5% nominal |
| 38 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $74,520 | $48,000 – $109,460 | -5.5%+18.9% nominal |
| 39 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,210 | $32,200 – $78,560 | -5.6%+18.8% nominal |
| 40 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $64,940 | $43,320 – $103,540 | -6.5%+17.7% nominal |
| 41 | Management AnalystsBachelor's degree | $101,400 | $62,730 – $168,420 | -6.6%+17.6% nominal |
| 42 | Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $114,150 | $65,520 – $205,600 | -7.1%+17.0% nominal |
| 43 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $76,760 | $46,860 – $125,700 | -7.3%+16.7% nominal |
| 44 | 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 |
| 45 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $171,530 | $106,390 – $277,160 | -8.2%+15.6% nominal |
| 46 | ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent | $58,570 | $37,920 – $80,300 | -9.0%+14.6% nominal |
| 47 | Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $61,930 | $41,580 – $95,770 | -9.1%+14.5% nominal |
| 48 | BartendersNo formal educational credential | $22,690 | $16,200 – $65,300 | -9.5%+14.0% nominal |
| 49 | Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent | $39,000 | $24,570 – $61,190 | -9.9%+13.4% nominal |
| 50 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $46,280 | $28,780 – $74,840 | -10.1%+13.2% nominal |