In Austin, Texas, the pay scale for tradesmen varies significantly. The lowest-paid tradespeople in the area can expect to earn around $11.16/hour, while top earners make close to $37.85/hour, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

On average, skilled tradespeople in Austin bring home about $25.71/hour. However, only a small percentage about 8% earn over $30/hour, with the largest group of tradespeople (approximately 19%) making between $18.50 and $21.25/hour. This wage range poses challenges for those trying to rent or buy in Austin or raise a family in the city's growing and competitive economy source: BLS, 2023.

Best and Worst-Paying Trade Jobs in Austin

• Top-paying trades: Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians, making around $30 to $37 per hour.

• Lower-paying trades: General laborers or entry-level construction workers may make closer to the lower end of the spectrum, between $11 to $15 per hour ​(Bureau of Labor Statistics )​(Neilsberg).

Other Industries in Austin, Texas

In Austin-Round Rock, Texas, the average hourly wage across all occupations in 2023 was $33.25, slightly higher than the national average of $31.48. Here's a breakdown of average wages for key industries in Austin:

• Management Occupations: $66.76 per hour, with some roles like Chief Executives earning up to $144.93 per hour.

• Business and Financial Operations: $41.85 per hour.

• Computer and Mathematical Occupations: $53.60 per hour, a strong field in Austin.

• Architecture and Engineering: $47.35 per hour.

• Healthcare Practitioners and Technical: $47.23 per hour.

• Legal Occupations: $64.25 per hour.

• Food Preparation and Serving: $15.58 per hour, one of the lower-paying sectors.

• Construction and Extraction: $25.59 per hour.

• Installation, Maintenance, and Repair: $26.99 per hour.

For more detailed analysis of wage distributions across other occupations, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

• Why We Do Things Differently at HandyMatt

At HandyMatt, our goal is to ensure that our team is well-compensated. If you're not making it into the top 1% pay rate for all Austin handymen within your first year, it means you didn’t meet the standards of working with our team. We’re committed to paying you well, ensuring your happiness, and supporting your goalswhether they are personal, family-related, or professional.

We believe in quickly raising pay for those who consistently demonstrate value. At HandyMatt, our philosophy is not about squeezing every bit of profit from someone's hard work. Instead, we reward employees for their contributions to our success and that of our clients.

The Importance of Pay for Mental and Physical Well-Being

Underpaying employees has consequences that go beyond the wallet—it impacts their sense of self-worth. Research conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has linked poor compensation to mental and physical health disorders. Low pay can erode a person’s self-value, regardless of their contribution, and create feelings of worthlessness. This leads to negative effects on their overall well-being and productivity source: NIH.

At HandyMatt, we believe that happy employees lead to happy clients. When you feel valued and well-compensated, that positive energy spreads to the people you serve, making everyone’s experience better. That, in turn, makes us happy, too.

Let’s work together to make work fun again!