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DFW trade pay: what to ask before you apply

On Dallas Craigslist's skilled-trades search, most listings still show blank or $0 pay in the results. Texas trade ads disclose a wage only about 6% of the time. Here is how to read the offer before you waste a week on a bad plan.

Why DFW trade ads hide the number

Texas does not require employers to put a wage or range in a job ad. A October 2026 sample of 664 Texas trade postings found that only 6.3% named a wage. National job boards and Craigslist DFW still fill with "DOE," "competitive," or nothing at all.

Sources: Tradesppl pay transparency index (Oct 2026); Dallas Craigslist skilled trades search.

Pay plans you will see in DFW

  • Hourly W-2: clearest. Ask for the starting rate, overtime rules, and whether on-call is paid as a stipend or hour-for-hour.
  • Flat-rate (service): paid per completed ticket from a company book. Ask for average tickets in your zip codes, warranty callback pay, and whether helpers share the flat.
  • Hourly plus spiffs: base wage plus bonuses for maintenance agreements, parts, or five-star reviews. Get the spiff sheet in writing.
  • 1099 / piece / commission: you invoice the company. Factor self-employment tax (~15.3%), health insurance, tools, fuel and unpaid windshield time.

Eight questions to ask before you say yes

  1. What is the exact hourly rate, flat-rate book, or commission formula?
  2. When is the first paycheck, and is there a draw against commission?
  3. Do I get a take-home van, fuel card, and company tools—or buy my own?
  4. How is on-call paid, and how often does the rotation hit?
  5. Are helpers, apprentices or helpers' wages taken out of my flat or commission?
  6. Is this W-2 or 1099, and who pays for liability and workers' comp?
  7. What licenses or certifications must I already hold (TDLR, EPA 608, TSBPE)?
  8. How many techs left this role in the last 12 months, and why?

Benchmark the offer

Use public wage data so "competitive" has a floor. BLS reports a median of $61,010 a year for HVAC mechanics and installers (May 2025), with the top 10% over $95,210. Electricians and plumbers in the DFW metro sit near the high $50ks to low $60ks at the median depending on the survey year—ask for the number, then compare.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, HVAC mechanics and installers.

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FAQ

Why do so many DFW trade ads skip the wage?

Texas has no pay-transparency posting law. A October 2026 sample of U.S. trade postings found only 6.3% of Texas ads named a wage.

What is flat-rate pay for a service tech?

You are paid a set amount per completed job instead of (or on top of) an hourly wage. Ask for the flat-rate book, the average tickets in your area, and how warranty callbacks are paid.

Should I take a 1099 trade job?

Only if the pay covers self-employment tax, your own insurance, tools, fuel and unpaid downtime. Ask whether the company controls your schedule and van—those are W-2 signals.