High paying entry level jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

These occupations in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX run 1.4% below the national average (2024), so a Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX salary is worth about 1.01× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

OccupationMedian, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · Employed

1Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$174,490
Bachelor's degree
$65,480 – $293,0902,380
2Petroleum Engineers$169,870
Bachelor's degree
$89,990 – $288,5304,770
3Lawyers$157,980
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,210 – $363,12016,810
4Pharmacists$140,470
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,200 – $170,1706,410
5Chemical Engineers$138,120
Bachelor's degree
$99,890 – $217,2601,510
6Physician Assistants$137,240
Master's degree
$90,920 – $168,2402,390
7Nurse Practitioners$134,560
Master's degree
$96,880 – $158,8305,970
8Aerospace Engineers$133,970
Bachelor's degree
$80,850 – $195,1901,890
9Veterinarians$132,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,390 – $207,6601,340
10Electrical Engineers$131,070
Bachelor's degree
$77,170 – $207,9905,770
11Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors$130,280
Bachelor's degree
$83,050 – $213,7901,400
12Engineers, All Other$130,270
Bachelor's degree
$63,700 – $195,1903,490
13Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$129,630
Bachelor's degree
$83,330 – $197,9401,380
14Software Developers$129,440
Bachelor's degree
$80,400 – $181,77022,940
15Mechanical Engineers$125,350
Bachelor's degree
$79,470 – $198,7308,310
16Optometrists$124,640
Doctoral or professional degree
$96,020 – $162,0101,250
17Database Administrators$116,030
Bachelor's degree
$60,730 – $159,8901,090
18Computer Systems Analysts$113,440
Bachelor's degree
$70,910 – $168,5408,510
19Industrial Engineers$111,690
Bachelor's degree
$73,840 – $174,3208,620
20Physical Therapists$107,700
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,250 – $142,5704,680
21Data Scientists$106,750
Bachelor's degree
$62,980 – $167,2304,060
22Chemists$106,740
Bachelor's degree
$63,370 – $170,5402,430
23Computer Occupations, All Other$105,440
Bachelor's degree
$49,500 – $173,59011,460
24Dental Hygienists$104,930
Associate's degree
$85,550 – $108,5903,060
25Business Teachers, Postsecondary$104,320
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,730 – $196,2001,270
26Occupational Therapists$103,580
Master's degree
$78,790 – $140,7202,700
27Financial and Investment Analysts$101,660
Bachelor's degree
$66,730 – $174,2206,510
28Network and Computer Systems Administrators$101,430
Bachelor's degree
$66,770 – $157,9806,330
29Civil Engineers$100,950
Bachelor's degree
$67,250 – $168,24012,140
30Registered Nurses$99,830
Bachelor's degree
$74,860 – $130,44065,910
31Project Management Specialists$99,510
Bachelor's degree
$58,560 – $168,07035,550
32Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$98,690
Bachelor's degree
$51,800 – $147,3602,420
33Dentists, General$98,570
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,790 – $306,1101,660
34Computer Programmers$96,440
Bachelor's degree
$56,180 – $145,5101,340
35Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$96,050
Master's degree
$46,210 – $169,5001,100
36Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$95,170
Bachelor's degree
$60,840 – $160,5301,840
37Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,100
Associate's degree
$71,350 – $106,4901,670
38Web Developers$89,040
Bachelor's degree
$52,000 – $143,6401,060
39Operations Research Analysts$86,380
Bachelor's degree
$60,120 – $171,5802,500
40Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$85,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,140 – $131,0902,710
41Accountants and Auditors$85,090
Bachelor's degree
$58,780 – $144,19028,400
42Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$82,910
Bachelor's degree
$48,300 – $134,0705,650
43Business Operations Specialists, All Other$82,060
Bachelor's degree
$47,700 – $145,83024,360
44Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,780
Associate's degree
$52,200 – $103,1105,000
45Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$80,470
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,810 – $133,6506,090
46Respiratory Therapists$80,450
Associate's degree
$57,180 – $99,6903,630
47Mechanical Drafters$78,820
Associate's degree
$54,990 – $130,4901,300
48Calibration Technologists and Technicians$78,610
Associate's degree
$47,100 – $107,3001,930
49Physical Therapist Assistants$77,280
Associate's degree
$42,480 – $101,2902,210
50Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,190
Associate's degree
$45,650 – $126,5401,470

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianHouston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersBachelor's degree	$174,490	$65,480 – $293,090	2,380
2	Petroleum EngineersBachelor's degree	$169,870	$89,990 – $288,530	4,770
3	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$157,980	$80,210 – $363,120	16,810
4	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$140,470	$83,200 – $170,170	6,410
5	Chemical EngineersBachelor's degree	$138,120	$99,890 – $217,260	1,510
6	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$137,240	$90,920 – $168,240	2,390
7	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$134,560	$96,880 – $158,830	5,970
8	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$133,970	$80,850 – $195,190	1,890
9	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$132,280	$81,390 – $207,660	1,340
10	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$131,070	$77,170 – $207,990	5,770
11	Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsBachelor's degree	$130,280	$83,050 – $213,790	1,400
12	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$130,270	$63,700 – $195,190	3,490
13	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$129,630	$83,330 – $197,940	1,380
14	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$129,440	$80,400 – $181,770	22,940
15	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$125,350	$79,470 – $198,730	8,310
16	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$124,640	$96,020 – $162,010	1,250
17	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$116,030	$60,730 – $159,890	1,090
18	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$113,440	$70,910 – $168,540	8,510
19	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$111,690	$73,840 – $174,320	8,620
20	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$107,700	$78,250 – $142,570	4,680
21	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$106,750	$62,980 – $167,230	4,060
22	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$106,740	$63,370 – $170,540	2,430
23	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$105,440	$49,500 – $173,590	11,460
24	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$104,930	$85,550 – $108,590	3,060
25	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$104,320	$48,730 – $196,200	1,270
26	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$103,580	$78,790 – $140,720	2,700
27	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$101,660	$66,730 – $174,220	6,510
28	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$101,430	$66,770 – $157,980	6,330
29	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,950	$67,250 – $168,240	12,140
30	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$99,830	$74,860 – $130,440	65,910
31	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$99,510	$58,560 – $168,070	35,550
32	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$98,690	$51,800 – $147,360	2,420
33	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$98,570	$76,790 – $306,110	1,660
34	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$96,440	$56,180 – $145,510	1,340
35	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$96,050	$46,210 – $169,500	1,100
36	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$95,170	$60,840 – $160,530	1,840
37	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$95,100	$71,350 – $106,490	1,670
38	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$89,040	$52,000 – $143,640	1,060
39	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$86,380	$60,120 – $171,580	2,500
40	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,400	$48,140 – $131,090	2,710
41	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$85,090	$58,780 – $144,190	28,400
42	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$82,910	$48,300 – $134,070	5,650
43	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$82,060	$47,700 – $145,830	24,360
44	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,780	$52,200 – $103,110	5,000
45	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$80,470	$64,810 – $133,650	6,090
46	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,450	$57,180 – $99,690	3,630
47	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$78,820	$54,990 – $130,490	1,300
48	Calibration Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,610	$47,100 – $107,300	1,930
49	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,280	$42,480 – $101,290	2,210
50	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,190	$45,650 – $126,540	1,470

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

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