Metro Area

Careers in Sherman-Denison, TX

What working and living here is really like

52K
Total Jobs
In metro area
$40K
Median Salary
All occupations
52K
Population
Metro area
3.3%
Unemployment
Dec 2023

Working in Sherman-Denison

Sherman-Denison sits in the Texoma region where Texas meets Oklahoma, far enough from Dallas to maintain small-city identity while close enough to benefit from metro spillover. Lake Texoma draws recreation; Texas Instruments has manufacturing presence; and the Grayson College training programs feed workers into the regional economy. It's North Texas without the North Texas prices—a place where people live who work in Dallas or who've found niches in the local economy.

The cost of living runs 8% below national average, and the 3.3% unemployment reflects a functioning economy. The area has grown as Dallas has sprawled north and as people have sought alternatives to metro costs. Sherman has more retail and services; Denison (birthplace of Eisenhower) has more historical character.

The appeal is straightforward Texas math. Affordable housing, reasonable commute to Dallas jobs (60 miles), and small-city services without small-town isolation. Those who choose it tend to be families stretching dollars, retirees seeking Texas warmth at lower costs, or people who grew up in the region and prefer it to metropolitan intensity.

✦ Editorial — generated from BLS, BEA, Census, and metro-level data
The Job Market

Where the jobs are

The sectors that shape Sherman-Denison, TX's employment landscape — by total jobs or local specialization.

Sectors where Sherman-Denison punches above its weight. A 2× means twice the national share of jobs in that sector, adjusted for metro size.

2
Dairy ProcessingManufacturing
4.59×
4
Metal FabricationManufacturing
2.97×
5
Call Centers & Business SupportAdministrative Services
2.88×
6
Home HealthcareHealthcare
2.29×
7
2.16×
8
2.01×
BLS QCEW 2024 · Location quotient measures sector concentration relative to national average

Earning potential

Salaries here run about 18.4% below national averages — but that doesn't account for what your dollar actually buys.

Median salary vs. national average
All occupations · Sherman MSA vs. U.S. · 2019–2024
#349of 380 metros by median salary
-18.4%vs. national median
$25K$35K$45K$55K201920202021202220232024$50K$40K-18%
Sherman MSANational avg
Roles that pay disproportionately vs. national average
Sherman pays above average
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education0%
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education-3%
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General-6%
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive-9%
Stockers and Order Fillers-9%
Sherman pays below average
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary-33%
Home Health and Personal Care Aides-32%
General and Operations Managers-21%
Food Preparation Workers-18%
Cooks, Restaurant-18%
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BEA Regional Price Parities 2023

Job market over time

Current unemployment tells you one thing. The trend over a decade tells you something more useful about resilience and trajectory.

Current rate
3.3%
Dec 2023 · roughly at national average
COVID-19 peak
9.7%
Apr 2020 · lower than national peak of 14.8%
Recovery speed
mo.
Back to pre-COVID · national avg was 27 mo.
9.7%2%4%6%8%10%2014201520162017201820192020202120222023
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) · Monthly seasonally adjusted
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Metros with a similar profile

Other metro areas that share key characteristics with Sherman-Denison, TX.

Metros where the same industries punch above their weight

Nearby
Texarkana, TX-AR
Healthcare · Education · Hospitality & Food Service
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Further afield
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Victoria, TX
Healthcare · Education · Hospitality & Food Service
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
Healthcare · Education · Hospitality & Food Service
✦ Similarity scoring — Truest algorithm using BLS, BEA, Census data
Daily Life

Getting to work

Time spent commuting is time you're not spending on anything else.

25.7 min
1.0 min shorter than national average of 26.7 min
How workers get there
🚗 Drove alone
78%nat'l 73%
🏠 Work from home
9%nat'l 13%
🚗 Carpool
10.3%nat'l 9%
🚌 Transit
0.3%nat'l 3%
Census ACS 1-Year Estimates 2023 · Tables B08136, B08301

State laws that affect your career

From taxes to worker protections — the policies that shape your take-home pay and flexibility.

💰
State Income Tax
None
No state income tax means your full salary hits your bank account. But Texas has high property taxes, so if you're buying a home, factor that into your math. Renters see the most benefit.
No state tax
👶
Paid Family Leave
Federal only
Texas has no state-mandated paid leave program. Parental leave, sick time, family care—it all depends on your employer's policy. This varies wildly even among large companies, so ask specifically during the offer stage.
Employer-dependent
📋
Pay Transparency
Not required
No disclosure requirements. You'll negotiate without knowing the range.
No state law
💵
Minimum Wage
$7.25
Texas uses the federal minimum of $7.25, which hasn't changed since 2009. Most employers pay above this, but if you're considering hourly work, verify the actual rate—don't assume.
Federal floor only
📄
Non-compete Laws
Enforceable
Texas courts generally enforce noncompetes if they're reasonable. If you're in a senior role or have access to trade secrets, read the fine print before signing—it could limit where you work next.
Read before signing
🤝
Union Environment
Right-to-work
Texas is a right-to-work state with low union presence. If union membership or collective bargaining matters to you, options are limited outside specific industries like airlines.
Low union density
🏥
Healthcare Access
Not expanded
Texas didn't expand Medicaid, which affects coverage options if you're between jobs or self-employed. Marketplace plans are available, but fewer people qualify for subsidized coverage compared to expansion states.
Coverage gap exists
Tax Foundation, DOL, KFF, state labor departments · Updated 2024

Where residents come from

The mix of locals and transplants shapes a city's culture and openness to newcomers.

64.3%
Born locally
Grew up in Texas
vs. 58% nationally
36%
Transplants
Moved from elsewhere
vs. 42% nationally
6.7%
Foreign-born
International origins
vs. 14% nationally
A locals-stay city — 64.3% of residents were born in Texas.
Census ACS 5-Year · Table B05002
Lifestyle

Leisure & hospitality employment

Employment in recreation and hospitality sectors — a proxy for what's popular here.

🍸
NightlifeBars
-19%
115 workers
🍽️
DiningFull-service restaurants
-3%
2K workers
🎭
Arts & CultureMuseums, theater, music
-40%
49 workers
🎢
ActivitiesTheme parks, golf, recreation
-28%
921 workers
🏃
Fitness & OutdoorsGyms, sports, coaching
-19%
323 workers
Below avgU.S. AvgAbove avg
Comparing workers per 100K jobs vs. national average
BLS OEWS May 2024 · Leisure & hospitality sectors

Food scene

Expect Texas basics: barbecue, Tex-Mex, steakhouses. Fulbelli's does Italian that's survived since 1969. The food scene is reliable comfort food without culinary ambition. Chain presence is strong. Don't expect innovation; expect generous portions.

The Main Street districts in both Sherman and Denison have developed some character. Eisenhower Birthplace is a historic attraction. Social life runs through churches, sports leagues, and lake activities. Nightlife is minimal—local bars and not much else. Dallas provides cultural and entertainment escapes.

✦ Editorial — LLM generated from culinary record and food culture data

Climate

Weather patterns that shape daily life and outdoor time.

☀️
302
Sunny days / year
🌧️
50.5"
Annual rainfall
❄️
2.8"
Annual snowfall
40°F60°F80°F100°F120°FJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg monthly high (°F)Avg monthly low (°F)Sunny days that month (size = more)
NOAA Climate Normals 1991–2020 · Open-Meteo ERA5

Starting a business here

New business filings per worker — a measure of economic dynamism and how often people go out on their own.

Current rate
3.70
New business filings per 100 workers · near national avg
Post-COVID peak
2.94
2021 · pandemic startup surge
Trend
growing
Since peak
0.51.52.53.54.5201420152016201720182019202020212022202320243.903.70
ShermanNational avg
Census Business Formation Statistics (BFS) · Annual, metro aggregate from county-level EIN applications · Rates normalized per 100 workers using BLS LAUS employment figures
Is Sherman-Denison Right For You?

Who tends to thrive here

An honest look at the careers and situations where Sherman-Denison, TX tends to work well — and where it doesn't.

Sherman-Denison, TX tends to work well for…
Dallas commuters seeking affordability
Your Dallas salary goes much further here. The 75-minute commute is the price for affordable homeownership.
Families wanting Texas values at lower cost
Affordable housing, decent schools, and small-city community. Family formation is supported here.
Lake recreation enthusiasts
Lake Texoma is genuinely excellent for fishing and boating. If water recreation is priority, access is easy.
Retirees seeking Texas affordability
No state income tax plus low costs. Fixed incomes stretch here.
Manufacturing workers
TI and other employers provide stable work. Manufacturing careers remain viable.
Sherman-Denison, TX tends to create more friction for…
Career climbers in competitive industries
The local job market is limited. Serious professional advancement means Dallas or beyond.
Those seeking urban amenities
Dining, nightlife, and cultural options are modest. Dallas is the outlet.
People who dislike long commutes
If you work in Dallas, the drive is significant. If commute exhaustion affects you, the math may not work.
Those seeking diverse communities
The population is relatively homogeneous. International community is limited.
Anyone uncomfortable with Texas heat
Summers are hot. If heat affects you, the climate is challenging.
✦ Editorial — generated from BLS OEWS, BEA RPP, KFF health data, Census ACS. These are probabilistic patterns, not certainties.

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) · Census Bureau Business Formation Statistics · Census ACS 5-Year Estimates · NOAA Climate Normals 1991–2020 · BEA Regional Price Parities · Trust for Public Land ParkScore® · NEA Arts & Cultural Production Satellite Account
Truest editorial: Metro narrative, fit analysis, food and culture context, similar city tags, thrives/friction profiles.