Skilled Trades Jobs in Arlington, TX

Licensed plumbers in Arlington are seeing posted pay of $85,000 to $150,000 a year, and North Texas heat keeps HVAC crews busy at Six Flags, plants and homes alike. The guides below cover every skilled trade in Arlington, who is hiring, what it pays, and how to get licensed.

Carpenter Jobs Concrete Finisher Jobs Construction Laborer Jobs Electrician Jobs Glazier Jobs HVAC Technician Jobs Mason Jobs Painter Jobs Plumber Jobs Roofer Jobs Sheet Metal Worker Jobs Welder Jobs

Why Skilled Trades Work Is Different in Arlington

Arlington's trades market has three engines. Residential service is the first: Baker Brothers Plumbing, Air & Electric, part of Wrench Group, posts licensed plumbers for Arlington with weekly performance bonuses, and Texas summers keep air conditioning service in demand from Viridian in the north to the newer neighborhoods south of I-20. The second is the Entertainment District, where Six Flags Over Texas at I-30 and SH 360 hires commercial HVAC technicians who work nights, weekends and extended hours around park operations.

The third is industrial. International Automotive Components, a Tier 1 supplier to GM Arlington Assembly, is urgently hiring third shift industrial maintenance technicians and a tooling and molding maker in Arlington, and ANDRITZ posts field service welders and mechanical technicians from its Arlington office. Commercial mechanical contractor TDIndustries runs plumber and HVAC service apprentice roles across Dallas and Fort Worth. Because Texas licenses electricians through TDLR and plumbers through the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, the path from helper to licensed tradesperson here is measured in logged hours, not just years on the job.

Top Skilled Trades Employers in Arlington

These employers have posted trades roles in Arlington or the surrounding corridor on their own careers sites in recent weeks:

  • Baker Brothers Plumbing, Air & Electric - the residential service company hires licensed plumbers in Arlington at $85,000 to $150,000 plus weekly bonuses.
  • Six Flags Over Texas - the theme park hires HVAC technicians in Arlington who hold or will earn EPA refrigerant certification.
  • International Automotive Components - the GM supplier plant hires industrial maintenance technicians and a tooling and molding maker.
  • ANDRITZ - the industrial equipment group posts field service welder and mechanical technician roles out of Arlington.
  • Poly-America - the plastics manufacturer lists maintenance roles alongside machine operator jobs at its Grand Prairie plant.
  • TDIndustries - the commercial mechanical contractor hires plumber apprentices in Dallas and HVAC service apprentices in Fort Worth.

Skilled Trades Career Paths in Arlington

  • Licensed and registered trades - Electrician, Plumber, HVAC Technician. State registration from day one, then logged hours toward journeyman and higher licenses.
  • Metal and fabrication - Welder, Sheet Metal Worker. Plant maintenance, field service and ductwork, with demand from the industrial district.
  • Building and structure - Construction Laborer, Carpenter, Concrete Finisher, Mason, Roofer, Glazier. The fastest way in, with no state license needed.
  • Finishing - Painter. Residential repaint and commercial finish work across the metro.

How to Start a Skilled Trades Career in Arlington

  • TDLR electrician license - a journeyman license takes 8,000 hours of work under a master electrician, through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
  • TSBPE plumbing license - a journeyman plumber needs 8,000 hours, a 48-hour course and an exam with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Apprentices register first, and TDIndustries lists that registration as preferred.
  • TDLR A/C and Refrigeration technician registration - open at age 16 for $20, for technicians working under a licensed air conditioning contractor; the Certified Technician step requires an exam.
  • EPA refrigerant certification - federal certification required for nearly all HVAC technicians who handle refrigerant. Six Flags gives new hires 6 months to get it.
  • Tarrant County College South Campus - 5301 Campus Dr in south Fort Worth offers Welding Technology and Pipe Fitter AAS degrees plus HVAC training; welding also runs at TCC Northwest.
  • Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center - Arlington ISD's center on Browning Drive teaches construction and manufacturing clusters for high school students.

Electrician, plumber and A/C technician registrations are required by Texas law; welding, carpentry, masonry, roofing, glazing and painting need no state license, and certifications there are employer preference.

Skilled Trades Salaries in Arlington

  • Entry - about $19 to $22 an hour for helpers, apprentices and new laborers.
  • Mid - about $27 to $32 an hour for journeyman electricians and plumbers, HVAC technicians and experienced welders.
  • Senior - about $45 to $52 an hour and up for master-level, specialty and top service techs, with licensed Arlington plumbers posted at $85,000 to $150,000 a year.

These are estimates. BLS national medians for May 2025 were $30.38 an hour for electricians, $30.67 for plumbers and $29.33 for HVAC mechanics, and Dallas-Fort Worth construction jobs averaged $27.03 an hour. License level, overtime, on-call service work and commission or performance bonuses at residential service companies move pay the most.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which trades need a license in Arlington?

Electricians are licensed by TDLR, plumbers by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, and A/C technicians register with TDLR and work under a licensed contractor. Welders, carpenters, masons, roofers, glaziers and painters need no state license.

How long does it take to become a journeyman electrician or plumber in Texas?

Both licenses require 8,000 hours of on-the-job experience, which is about four years of full-time work. Plumbers also complete a 48-hour course and pass a state exam before they can test up.

How much do skilled trades jobs pay in Arlington?

Helpers and apprentices generally start around $19 to $22 an hour, journeyman-level trades earn about $27 to $32, and master-level or top service techs can pass $45. A current Baker Brothers posting for licensed Arlington plumbers lists $85,000 to $150,000 a year.

Do HVAC technicians need EPA certification?

Yes. Federal rules require nearly all HVAC technicians who handle refrigerant to be certified. Some Arlington employers, such as Six Flags Over Texas, will hire you and give you 6 months to earn it.

Where can I train for a trade near Arlington?

Tarrant County College South Campus in Fort Worth offers Welding Technology and Pipe Fitter degrees and HVAC training, and TCC Northwest also teaches welding. High school students in Arlington ISD can start at the Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center.

Ready to get started? Browse all current skilled trades job openings in Arlington, TX on LocalJobPage.