top 12 jobs and growing industries in dallas, texas.

Low cost of living? Check. Dallas is an extremely affordable place to live and work compared to other big cities. Great recreation? Definitely. There are green parks, swimming pools, golf courses and a host of other leisure facilities. Culture and entertainment? Indeed — everything from world-class museums to an epic nightlife scene in this city of 1.3 million. Add on plentiful job opportunities in a diverse range of industries, and it’s no wonder Dallas is drawing job seekers from all over the country.

Established industries here include energy, defense and manufacturing, with household names like ExxonMobil, Lockheed Martin and Caterpillar all big employers. There are also numerous opportunities in more general occupations such as administration (536,720 roles) and finance (270,210), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With the city’s proximity to airports and highways, logistics is another big employer, while just like in many other U.S. cities, IT jobs are on the rise.

Check out some of the best jobs available in Dallas, including remote roles and those hiring with no qualifications required. Randstad research has found that Dallas wages are broadly on par with the national average, so we’ve provided salary estimates from the mid range of our data.

Software developers account for nearly 20 percent of total IT jobs in Dallas, more than any other category of tech roles. The number of tech start-ups, including web, mobile app and software development firms, is increasing fast thanks to city-driven initiatives like the Dallas Urban Innovation Corridor, so opportunities in this role abound. Nationwide, this job is predicted to grow 25 percent in the decade up to 2031 — much faster than the 5 percent average for all jobs — with a mean salary of $121k per year in Dallas.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is home to over 13,000 financial institutions, from the regional offices of federal monetary authorities to major global banks and fintech start-ups. Together, they employ more than 11,000 financial and investment analysts, who work to inform strategy and advise on investment decisions. Salaries range from $79k to $108k.

The Dallas area plays a key role in the manufacturing industry across Texas, and with nearly 300,000 workers, contributes almost one-third of the state’s manufacturing employment. There’s a diverse range of goods produced here, from clothing to bricks, SUVs and aerospace components. Within this industry, mechanical engineers design and develop parts, machines and systems, drawing a salary of between $86k and $108k.

Thanks to its central location, local government incentives and growing pool of talent from nationally ranked research institutions like the University of Texas at Dallas, the city is rapidly becoming a life sciences hub. It ranks seventh in the country for the highest number of life science and biotech jobs, including positions like clinical research associates, who work to develop new drugs. Salaries in this role range from $65k to $103k.

Over 22 million tourists visit Dallas every year, spending $4.4 billion in the city’s hotels, restaurants and cultural attractions. Drawing them in with branding events and social media campaigns are marketing managers, who work to drive customer interest across multiple channels. This role isn’t just limited to hospitality — any business with products and services needs marketing managers, who earn a salary of $118k to $164k.

There’s construction everywhere you look in Dallas, from public infrastructure projects like the expansion of I-35 to the building of cutting-edge business parks, new homes and ambitious future projects. Construction managers supervise and coordinate workers on building sites, in a role that’s projected to grow 8 percent in the decade up to 2031. The annual salary is $88k to $113k.