The 10 Best Jobs In Texas For 2026 College Grads

The 10 Best Jobs in Texas for 2026 College Grads

Fastest Growing Jobs In Texas

Source: Wikipedia

As you prepare to graduate from college, you might be asking yourself: what’s next?

For many graduates, the immediate concern is finding a job—any job. With the constantly evolving job market, we’ve compiled a list to help you navigate your options and find promising opportunities in Texas.

After thorough research and analysis, we present the top 10 jobs for 2026 college graduates in Texas:

Wondering why computer systems analysts made the list? Keep reading to discover how we compiled this list and why these roles are worth considering.

How We Determined the Best Entry-Level Jobs in Texas

By engaging with recent college graduates, we have gathered insights into what they seek in their first job. Common priorities include:

Availability of jobs
Location
Salary
Opportunities for advancement
Work-life balance

Fortunately, extensive data exists from various sources concerning these criteria. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salary information by region, state labor departments track job growth, and ONet Online offers insights into job requirements.

We created a comprehensive database by aggregating data from these sources, focusing on the following criteria:

Location quotient: A measure of job prevalence in Texas.
Jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree.
Average annual entry-level salary.
Projected industry growth over the next decade.

By narrowing our dataset to jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree, we identified 49 professions to rank.

Each job was ranked based on criteria from 1 to 49, with 1 being the most favorable. We then averaged these rankings to create a “Job Score,” which we used to rank the jobs overall.

One Job, Please

Graduating from college can feel daunting, but it’s an equally thrilling time filled with possibilities. With numerous career paths to explore, this list will help you navigate the job market in Texas.

Below is a detailed examination of the best jobs for 2026 college graduates in the Lone Star State.

Detailed List of the Best Entry-Level Jobs in Texas for 2026 College Grads

Rank	Job	Growth %	Entry Wage	Jobs in 2024
1	Computer Systems Analysts	32.11%	$53,490	77,430
2	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers	26.67%	$78,970	11,020
3	Cartographers and Photogrammetrists	41.67%	$34,310	2,040
4	Sales Engineers	20.77%	$60,580	11,280
5	Database Administrators	23.69%	$43,340	14,200
6	Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists	29.35%	$40,810	16,000
7	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	24.46%	$35,790	20,000
8	Credit Counselors	30.86%	$27,180	4,240
9	Web Developers	36.6%	$35,140	13,810
10	Technical Writers	23.23%	$41,250	5,040
11	Network and Computer Systems Administrators	20.75%	$49,920	38,820
12	Audio-Visual and Multimedia Collections Specialists	21.89%	$29,090	2,060
13	Paralegals and Legal Assistants	27.14%	$31,760	28,250
14	Credit Analysts	19.11%	$38,740	8,600
15	Cost Estimators	23.9%	$34,720	20,270
16	Computer Network Support Specialists	19.56%	$38,540	22,130
17	Management Analysts	24.45%	$48,420	51,610
18	Electronics Engineers, Except Computer	14.55%	$66,540	14,330
19	Airfield Operations Specialists	18.75%	$32,600	1,140
20	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products	20.61%	$39,030	32,180
21	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	22.05%	$26,800	4,760
22	Interior Designers	21.19%	$31,400	7,150
23	Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians	30.7%	$25,110	15,200
24	Occupational Health and Safety Technicians	14.67%	$29,010	4,220
25	Community Health Workers	25.64%	$24,440	4,900
26	Human Resources Specialists	17.1%	$33,350	51,290
27	Surveyors	11.95%	$30,170	5,340
28	Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors	30.3%	$26,800	5,290
29	Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners	23.58%	$26,210	9,800
30	Insurance Sales Agents	21.77%	$25,990	51,580
31	Computer Programmers	0.39%	$42,460	20,820
32	Industrial Engineers	13.15%	$56,710	16,180
33	Self-Enrichment Education Teachers	27.39%	$18,630	27,070
34	Multimedia Artists and Animators	17.14%	$34,100	4,580
35	Psychiatric Technicians	23.85%	$21,130	4,050
36	Residential Advisors	23.72%	$16,970	9,440
37	Film and Video Editors	29.06%	$17,600	1,510
38	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians	20.0%	$19,740	1,080
39	Rehabilitation Counselors	22.11%	$25,240	6,020
40	Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates	13.93%	$17,860	3,190
41	Social and Human Service Assistants	23.92%	$18,510	19,220
42	Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products	18.39%	$26,820	1,030
43	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents	-2.2%	$32,360	4,010
44	Commercial and Industrial Designers	9.78%	$36,910	1,010
45	Clergy	16.47%	$28,210	59,770
46	Recreation Workers	22.78%	$16,560	22,420
47	Directors, Religious Activities and Education	15.75%	$29,570	12,640
48	Coaches and Scouts	18.42%	$17,610	16,200
49	Advertising Sales Agents	7.77%	$19,250	9,430

In summary, navigating the job market after graduation can be daunting, but understanding the landscape of opportunities available in Texas can help you make informed decisions. The jobs highlighted here represent a mix of stability, growth potential, and diverse fields, catering to a wide array of interests and skills. Embrace this exciting transition and explore the paths that align with your aspirations!

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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