Construction Hiring in Texas 2026: Market Report & Salary Data by Metro

Texas Construction by the Numbers: 2026

Between January 2025 and January 2026, Texas added 30,100 construction jobs — a 3.4% increase that represents the largest numeric gain of any state nationwide, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. The state now leads the nation in commercial construction spending at nearly $90 billion annually.

The Dallas Fed forecasts 1.1% overall job growth for Texas in 2026, with construction among the leading sectors. Among major metros, Austin and San Antonio posted the fastest employment growth at 5.9%, followed by Dallas at 4.8%, El Paso at 4.4%, Houston at 4.1%, and Fort Worth at 2.9%.

Despite these gains, the state faces a significant labor shortage. Contractors report difficulty filling mid-level and senior positions — particularly Project Managers, Superintendents, and Estimators with 5+ years of experience. This supply-demand imbalance is pushing salaries up 5-15% year over year in the state's hottest metros.

2026 Salary Benchmarks by Role (Texas)

Salary data compiled from ZipRecruiter, Indeed, Glassdoor, and Salary.com as of Q1 2026. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile, with high-end figures for specialized sectors (data center, healthcare) and premium metros.

Note: Total compensation (bonuses, vehicle allowance, profit sharing) adds 10–25% above base salary for mid-level roles and 20–40% for director/VP positions.

Metro-by-Metro Breakdown

Dallas–Fort Worth: The Biggest Market

DFW remains the state's largest construction market by volume. Employment growth hit 4.8% in early 2026, driven by commercial office, data center, and multifamily projects. The $90+ billion Texas Instruments semiconductor expansion in Sherman (just north of DFW) continues to pull skilled construction labor away from traditional commercial projects, tightening the talent pool further.

DFW salary snapshot: Project Managers earn $95,000–$165,000. Superintendents with commercial high-rise or data center experience command $100,000–$155,000. Signing bonuses of $5,000–$15,000 are increasingly common for experienced hires.

Houston: Industrial & Petrochemical Stronghold

Houston's construction market runs on industrial, petrochemical, and healthcare projects. The Texas Gulf Coast has expanding renewable energy facilities adding to the traditional oil and gas infrastructure pipeline. Houston employment growth sits at 4.1% — steady but constrained by skilled labor availability.

Houston salary snapshot: Industrial Superintendents earn $95,000–$150,000. Estimators with heavy civil or petrochemical experience are commanding $85,000–$120,000. Healthcare construction PMs (Methodist, Memorial Hermann campus expansions) earn 10–20% premiums over general commercial rates.

Austin: Tech-Driven Growth

Austin posted the fastest employment growth in the state at 5.9%. Tech campus construction (Apple, Google, Meta expansions), data center builds, and infrastructure to support the city's rapid population growth are all driving demand. Project Managers and Engineers working in Austin are seeing 15–20% pay increases when switching employers.

Austin salary snapshot: PMs earn $100,000–$170,000, with tech campus specialists at the top end. The market is especially tight for Superintendents — experienced supers with ground-up commercial are fielding 3–4 offers simultaneously. Cost of living is higher than DFW or Houston, but employers are adjusting.

San Antonio: Emerging Data Center Hub

San Antonio is emerging as a major data center construction hub. Rowan Digital Infrastructure's Cinco campus — a $900 million, 300 MW complex in Medina County — entered construction in 2025 and will continue through 2027. Combined with 5.9% metro employment growth (matching Austin), San Antonio offers construction professionals strong demand with a lower cost of living.

San Antonio salary snapshot: PMs earn $85,000–$145,000. Data center specialists can push above $150,000. The market is smaller than DFW or Houston but growing fast, creating opportunity for professionals willing to establish themselves in an emerging market.

Sector Spotlight: What's Driving the Demand

Data Centers

Texas ranks second nationally for data center construction starts, with nearly $40 billion in starts across the top 5 states from January to November 2025 alone. Global data center investment is projected to hit $500 billion in 2026 (up from $375 billion in 2025), and Texas is capturing a significant share. DFW, San Antonio, and the Houston suburbs are the primary hubs. Professionals with mission-critical MEP experience or hyperscale ground-up experience are commanding 15–25% salary premiums.

Infrastructure (IIJA Funded)

Texas received $35.4 billion in IIJA formula funding — the second-largest allocation after California. Highway, bridge, and utility projects across the state require Project Managers and Superintendents with DOT and Davis-Bacon compliance experience. These roles carry prevailing wage requirements that push compensation 10–20% above market rates.

Semiconductor & Manufacturing

Texas Instruments' $30+ billion Sherman campus, Samsung's $17 billion Taylor fab, and other semiconductor investments are creating massive demand for construction managers who can handle cleanroom environments and ultra-precise specifications. These roles are among the highest-paying in the state.

The Candidate Market: What You Need to Know

If you're a construction professional in Texas — or considering a move to Texas — 2026 is a candidate's market. Here's what we're seeing:

• Time to offer: Experienced PMs and Supers receive offers within 2–3 weeks of entering the market
• Multiple offers: Candidates with 7+ years and sector specialization routinely see 3–4 competing offers
• Counteroffers: Current employers are countering at 10–20% above existing salary to retain talent
• Relocation packages: Employers offer $10,000–$25,000 relocation assistance for out-of-state candidates, particularly for moves from higher-cost states
• Signing bonuses: $5,000–$15,000 is standard for mid-level hires in DFW and Austin
• No state income tax: Texas's zero state income tax means a $120,000 salary in Texas nets more take-home than $135,000–$140,000 in California or New York

For Employers: Hiring Strategies That Work in This Market

Mid-size contractors (50–200 employees) face the tightest competition for experienced professionals. Large GCs and national firms can outbid on salary alone. Here's what works:

• Speed: The best candidates are off the market in 2 weeks. If your hiring process takes 4–6 weeks, you'll lose them. Compress to 3 touchpoints: phone screen → in-person/project visit → offer.
• Total compensation: Don't lead with base salary alone. Vehicle allowance ($600–$800/month), profit sharing, project bonuses, and 401k match are differentiators.
• Project pipeline: Top candidates want to see 12–18 months of backlog. Show them your pipeline — it's your best recruiting tool.
• Use a specialist recruiter: General job boards get you 50 résumés, most unqualified. A construction-focused recruiter brings you 3–5 pre-screened candidates who match your culture, sector, and compensation range.

How Patriot Recruitment Serves the Texas Market

Texas is our largest market. We place Project Managers, Superintendents, Estimators, Project Engineers, and Directors/VPs at mid-size contractors across DFW, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Our focus on the 50–200 employee sweet spot means we understand the staffing challenges specific to regional and mid-size general contractors.

Average placement salary: $85,000–$160,000. Fee: 20–25% contingency (paid on successful hire only). Average time-to-fill: 3–4 weeks.