Texas' labor market is booming. Here are the 26 highest-paying jobs in the Lone Star State.

May 14, 2024

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Texas has a booming labor market.

March data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the state has a record-high number of people in the labor force and a record-high number of jobs.

Starting in June 2023, the unemployment rate in Texas has consistently been 3.9%, and the rate has been close to or at the national unemployment rate during 2024 so far. Plus, the state added over 80,000 jobs in the first three months of the year.

Amid a robust job market and with around 15.2 million people in the Texas labor force, Business Insider decided to look at what pay opportunities look like in the state based on recently published data.

Around two dozen jobs in Texas pay an average of over $175,000, including architectural and engineering managers, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, athletes, and other sports competitors.

That's based on average annual wage data from the May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BI focused on jobs that had data available for Texas from that release. While pediatric surgeon is a high-paying job in the state, we didn't include it in our ranking below because it didn't have a specific estimate stated.

Below are the highest-paying jobs in Texas along with their average annual wages and employment estimates in the state.

26. Postsecondary health specialties teachers

Medical or healthcare students and a professor

Average annual wage: $176,430

Employment estimate: 25,650

25. Lawyers

Lawyers sitting at a table and looking at a document

Average annual wage: $177,890

Employment estimate: 45,950

24. Commercial pilots

Pilots

Average annual wage: $180,660

Employment estimate: 6,360

23. Architectural and engineering managers

Three workers discussing an architectural project

Average annual wage: $185,320

Employment estimate: 18,540

22. Podiatrists

Close up of a patient's feet and a podiatrist

Average annual wage: $201,210

Employment estimate: 260

21. Psychiatrists

Psychiatrist or psychologist talking

Average annual wage: $205,270

Employment estimate: 1,040

20. Family medicine physicians

Doctor with a patient and parent

Average annual wage: $214,720

Employment estimate: 5,920

19. Nurse anesthetists

A patient and anesthesiologist

Average annual wage: $216,280

Employment estimate: 5,390

18. Dentists

Dentist and patient looking at an X-ray of teeth

Average annual wage: $220,000

Employment estimate: 10,910

17. General internal medicine physicians

Doctor and patient

Average annual wage: $224,640

Employment estimate: 2,690

16. Pediatricians

Pediatrician or doctor with a patient in a doctor's office

Average annual wage: $225,220

Employment estimate: 2,530

15. Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers

Southwest Airlines aircraft

Average annual wage: $227,380

Employment estimate: 7,800

14. Physicians (all other)

Doctor and patient

Average annual wage: $239,840

Employment estimate: 28,660

13. Anesthesiologists

Anesthesiologist adjusting anesthesia machine

Average annual wage: $257,220

Employment estimate: 1,370

12. Emergency medicine physicians

Doctor and nurses pushing woman on gurney

Average annual wage: $257,890

Employment estimate: Not available

11. Neurologists

Two doctors consult over an MRI scan

Average annual wage: $275,700

Employment estimate: 640

10. Dermatologists

Female dermatologist using cotton pads on a patient’s face

Average annual wage: $276,120

Employment estimate: 730

9. Surgeons (all other)

Surgeon, medical workers

Average annual wage: $276,680

Employment estimate: 1,680

8. Pathologists

Scientist or pathologist in a lab

Average annual wage: $278,140

Employment estimate: 890

7. Dentists (all other specialists)

Patient looking at her teeth in a mirror and next to her is a dentist or a worker in a dental office

Average annual wage: $287,240

Employment estimate: Not available

6. Obstetricians and gynecologists

Doctor with a patient and conducting an ultrasound

Average annual wage: $287,330

Employment estimate: 910

5. Ophthalmologists (except pediatric)

Ophthalmologist and a patient

Average annual wage: $291,320

Employment estimate: 1,260

4. Chief executives

People talking in a meeting in an office

Average annual wage: $298,140

Employment estimate: 6,970

3. Cardiologists

Doctor using a stethoscope

Average annual wage: $323,310

Employment estimate: 1,150

2. Radiologists

Doctor examining x-rays in hospital

Average annual wage: $327,850

Employment estimate: 1,830

1. Athletes and sports competitors

Football players of the Houston Texans during a game

Average annual wage: $368,110

Employment estimate: 2,760

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