How to Find Entry Level Jobs in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio
Entry level jobs are hiring across Texas's three biggest metros, mostly in food service, warehousing and delivery, customer service, cleaning and retail. Many need no degree and no past experience. Each metro has its own mix, so knowing where the openings are helps you aim.
Texas is adding jobs
Texas added 159,400 jobs in the year through August 2026, growing faster than the nation, and leisure and hospitality led August's gains (Texas Workforce Commission). San Antonio's unemployment rate was 4.5% in August 2026, not seasonally adjusted (TWC).
What each metro hires most
Houston: office and administrative support (11.5% of jobs), transportation and material moving (9.5%), and food preparation and serving (9.4%) are the biggest job groups (BLS, May 2025).
Dallas–Fort Worth: office and administrative support (12.1%) and transportation and material moving (10.5%) lead. DFW has the biggest warehouse and delivery share of the three metros (BLS, May 2025).
San Antonio: office and administrative support (12.9%) and food preparation and serving (10.6%) lead. San Antonio has about 34,730 customer service representatives, at 1.85 times the national rate (BLS, May 2025).
What entry level jobs pay in each metro
Average hourly wages for whole job groups, May 2025. They include experienced workers, so starting pay is usually lower.
| Job group | Houston | Dallas–Fort Worth | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food preparation and serving | $14.70 | $15.74 | $15.02 |
| Building cleaning and maintenance | $16.74 | $17.96 | $16.86 |
| Office and administrative support | $23.66 | $24.60 | $22.79 |
| Transportation and material moving | $24.26 | $24.17 | $21.23 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
The floor is $7.25 an hour everywhere in Texas. Texas cities can't set a higher minimum (Texas Labor Code §62.0515). Texas also doesn't require pay in job postings, so compare the jobs that do list it, and ask on the ones that don't.
Entry level vs. no experience
"Entry level" means the lowest level for that job at that company. It doesn't always mean no experience. Search for "no experience required," "will train" or "paid training" to find postings truly open to beginners.
How to get started
- Pick two or three job types that fit your schedule and how you like to work.
- Search by phrase plus your city: Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, San Antonio.
- Check the requirements, not just the title.
- Apply the same day you see a posting.
- Apply to several jobs at once.
- Keep your phone on. Employers often call or text to schedule interviews.
Where to find jobs
Search and apply from anywhere. Every listing is built to work on a phone.
Sources
- Texas Workforce Commission, "Annual Job Growth Exceeds 159,000 in Texas," August 2026 data.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Occupational Employment and Wages in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, May 2025."
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Occupational Employment and Wages in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, May 2025."
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Occupational Employment and Wages in San Antonio-New Braunfels, May 2025."
- Texas Labor Code §62.0515.