In Texas and across the U.S., interest in skilled trades is on the rise — and for good reason. Amid soaring college costs and student debt, many young Americans are opting for hands-on careers in construction trades like welding, plumbing, and electrical work — fields that offer strong wages, job security, and a path to financial independence without a four-year degree.

This shift comes as more people see the value of stable, skilled work that can’t easily be automated by AI. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), construction jobs are projected to grow by 5.6% between 2023 and 2033 — outpacing the 4% average growth for all occupations. The surge is fueled by infrastructure investment, manufacturing expansion, and the ongoing need to replace retiring tradespeople.

To understand where the best-paying construction opportunities are, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed the latest BLS data — revealing which jobs and states lead the pack for wages, job growth, and entrepreneurial potential.

Strong Pay, Solid Outlook

Construction and extraction workers nationwide earn a median hourly wage of $28.06, or about $58,360 a year — well above the average for jobs with similar or lower educational requirements. Many construction roles don’t require a college degree; in fact, some don’t even require a high school diploma. Yet the median weekly earnings of full-time construction workers ($1,026) nearly match what workers with associate degrees make ($1,099) and surpass the earnings of people with some college but no degree ($1,020).

Entrepreneurial Opportunities

Construction also offers high self-employment rates: 13.9% of workers in the sector are self-employed — more than double the national average of 5.8% — showing how the trades create pathways to independent business ownership.

Best States for Construction Wages

Geography plays a big role in construction pay. States like Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington, Alaska, and New Jersey offer some of the highest median hourly wages, ranging from $35 to more than $38 per hour. By contrast, some Southern states report median wages under $24 per hour for construction work.

Top-Earning Construction Jobs in Texas

For Texans considering a career in construction, here’s where the paychecks are biggest:

• Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
  • Median hourly wage: $45.46
  • Median annual wage: $94,550
• First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
  • Median hourly wage: $35.30
  • Median annual wage: $73,420
• Pile Driver Operators
  • Median hourly wage: $31.76
  • Median annual wage: $66,070

Nationwide, elevator and escalator installers top the list with a median annual wage of $106,580. Other lucrative roles include construction supervisors, boilermakers, building inspectors, and trades like electricians, who earn a national median of $62,350 and are projected to see 10.8% job growth through 2033.

Why Young Workers Are Choosing Construction

The appeal is clear: less debt, faster training, and jobs that pay well above national averages. “Today’s students and career changers see the value of trades that deliver real skills and real paychecks — especially as AI threatens traditional white-collar jobs,” notes Construction Coverage.

And with infrastructure and manufacturing investment surging, plus a large share of skilled workers approaching retirement age, opportunities in construction are only expected to grow.

Originally reported by Kten News.