Jobs in Demand in Texas in 2026

Key takeaways

• According to Texas Career Check, general and operations managers represent the top in‑demand jobs in the state, with 43,029 projected annual openings and 14.47 percent employment growth [1, 2].

• Defining high-demand jobs in Texas remains a broad question with high-priority roles spanning software development, heavy and tractor‑trailer truck drivers, physician assistants, wind turbine technicians, construction managers, and geoscientists.

• The most in-demand jobs in Texas reflect statewide trends that continue to shape hiring, including rapid population growth, home-building, and the state’s dominant oil and gas sector.

Trade jobs in demand in Texas remain central to the state’s growth, with strong opportunities for electricians, truck drivers, wind turbine technicians, and other skilled trades that support expanding construction, energy, and transportation sectors.

Learn about Texas's job growth, with opportunities in health care, renewable energy, technology, and construction. Afterward, consider discovering more about construction management with the Construction Management Specialization at Columbia University. The course includes information about scheduling tools for construction projects and how to estimate costs.

Jobs in demand in Texas

Texas’ population continues to grow year after year. According to the US Census Bureau, as of 2025, the state is now estimated to have more than 31 million residents, making it second only to California in the United States in terms of residents [3].

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that Texas also saw an increase in job openings and job hires in the last few months of 2025, with 603,000 job openings in December and 477,000 employees hired [4]. That could be a good sign if you’re trying to find a position at Lone Star State.

The growth in population and job hiring could be a good sign for you when you’re looking for a job in Texas or are considering relocating for job opportunities. See if some of these in-demand careers could fit your skill set or experience.

*All median annual salary and job outlook data are sourced from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of August 2026.

1. Physician assistant

Median annual US salary (BLS): $133,260

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 20 percent

Requirements: Master’s degree from an accredited program and licensed by the Texas Medical Board

Physician assistants work under the supervision of a physician to treat patients in both a general practice or specialization. You may be responsible for examining and diagnosing patients, providing treatment, administering a treatment plan, or prescribing medication.

Texas is facing a doctor shortage, pushing demand higher for physicians and physician assistants to see patients. As of 2025, 40 counties in Texas are without primary care physicians, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services [5].

2. Wind turbine technician

Median annual US salary (BLS): $62,580

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 50 percent

Requirements: Technical school or community college

Wind turbine technicians maintain and repair wind turbines used to generate energy. You may be responsible for assisting with installing new turbines, performing routine maintenance, or repairing a turbine when there’s an issue.

Texas generates the most wind energy of any state, making it an ideal place to live if you’re interested in working on the technical aspects of alternative energy generation.

3. Construction manager

Median annual US salary (BLS): $106,980

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 9 percent

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in construction, business, engineering, or a related field

Construction managers plan, coordinate, and supervise construction projects from start to finish. You can be responsible for the project budget, hiring personnel, monitoring progress, and ensuring construction is done within building regulations.

The rise in the state’s population has led to an increase in home construction, and Texas topped the list of US states based on housing permits by state in 2025. The state had more than 248,000 housing permits in 2025, with Florida coming in second with around 198,000 permits [6].

4. Software developer

Median annual US salary (BLS): $133,080

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 15 percent

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer or information technology or a related field

Software developers design and develop software for a particular need or application for customers. You may also investigate the needs of a particular application, develop a plan to address it, and determine how each piece of a program or application will work together.

Texas is the second-highest state to employ software developers, with almost 163,880, behind California, which has more than 284,390 [7].

5. Interpreter and translator

Median annual US salary (BLS): $59,440

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 2 percent

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and proficiency in both English and another language

Interpreters and translators help convey communication from one language to another. As an interpreter, you may have to convert ideas from one spoken language to another to relay information or deal with written languages as a translator.

Texas has a high number of residents who speak a language other than English at home, with 35.1 percent of residents in that category compared to only 22.3 percent of residents speaking a language other than English at home on a national level [8, 9]. That high rate of non-English speakers means interpreters and translators could be in more demand in the state.

6. Information security analyst

Median annual US salary (BLS): $124,910

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 29 percent (Much faster than average)

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, as well as work experience

Information security analysts organize plans to protect an organization’s computer network and computer systems with security measures. You’re responsible for monitoring potential security breaches, developing security standards, or helping computer users with security standards and protocols.

Texas is second on the list of states for information security analyst positions, with over 16,000 residents employed in the positions, according to the BLS [10]. This role could be a good opportunity if you live in the state and want to work in the information security field.

7. Truck driver

Median annual US salary (BLS): $57,440

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 4 percent

Requirements: High school diploma and a commercial driver’s license (CDL)

Truck drivers transport goods usually in tractor-trailers filled with cargo. Drivers are responsible for traveling long distances, securing cargo, and keeping equipment in good working order.

Texas employs the most truck drivers of any state, with more than 209,680 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers on its roads [11]. The state is also home to some of the busiest international crossings in the country, with drivers transporting goods between the United States and Mexico.

8. Electrician

Median annual US salary (BLS): $62,350

Job outlook (projected growth from 2 024 to 2034): 9 percent (faster than average)

Requirements: Technical school or apprenticeship as well as licensed by Texas

Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power for homes and businesses and other systems such as communications, lighting, or control systems. As an electrician, you may interpret technical diagrams, install and maintain wiring, and troubleshoot electrical issues, among other duties.

In-demand trade jobs in Texas are steady due to a tremendous increase in home building, which requires trade technicians such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and others [6].

9. Petroleum engineer

Median annual US salary (BLS): $141,280

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 1 percent

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering or a related field

Petroleum engineers design and develop plans to extract oil and gas from the earth. In this role, you may design equipment for oil and gas extraction, develop plans for drilling, or oversee equipment to ensure it’s installed and maintained properly.

Texas is by far the leading employer of petroleum engineers by state, with almost 9,140 of them, according to the BLS, followed by Oklahoma, which has less than 1,500 [12]. One factor for the high employment rate is oil in Texas, which produces 42.34 percent of the country’s total oil production [13].

10. Geoscientist

Median annual US salary (BLS): $99,240

Job outlook (projected growth from 2024 to 2034): 3 percent (faster than average)

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in geoscience or a related field and possibly a license by the state.

Geoscientists are responsible for studying the physical aspects of the Earth. You can carry out field studies and collect samples, make geologic charts and maps, or prepare written reports for clients about your findings.

Nearly 40 percent of geoscientists work in the oil and gas field to find oil and gas resources, contributing to Texas's leading position as the country's leading employer of geoscientists, with more than 4,900 employed there [14, 15].

What are some high-demand jobs in Texas?

Alongside roles such as software developer, heavy and tractor‑trailer truck driver, and registered nurse (RN), the top in‑demand occupation in Texas right now is general and operations manager. Texas Career Check projects about 43,029 annual openings for the role, with employment to increase by 14.47 percent. The education level for general and operations manager roles is typically high school diploma or the equivalent (GED, for example) and a potential annual salary of $103,235 [1, 2].

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