High paying entry level jobs in Texas

These occupations in Texas 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 Texas run 2.9% below the national average (2024), so a Texas salary is worth about 1.03× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Texas.

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

Find high paying jobs in Texas

OccupationMedian, Texas · Employed

1Petroleum Engineers$164,860
Bachelor's degree
$89,990 – $283,5009,140
2Computer Hardware Engineers$163,860
Bachelor's degree
$92,940 – $216,2607,390
3Dentists, General$162,360
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,990 – $308,2208,920
4Lawyers$154,200
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,340 – $349,49056,580
5Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$145,220
Bachelor's degree
$60,100 – $287,1804,900
6Pharmacists$138,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$95,950 – $170,17024,700
7Physician Assistants$134,550
Master's degree
$102,650 – $169,00010,110
8Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$132,220
Bachelor's degree
$82,950 – $205,7109,520
9Software Developers$132,150
Bachelor's degree
$82,600 – $183,680163,880
10Nurse Practitioners$131,670
Master's degree
$96,880 – $161,98025,970
11Veterinarians$131,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,510 – $203,9206,270
12Aerospace Engineers$130,270
Bachelor's degree
$82,990 – $195,1906,750
13Electrical Engineers$129,450
Bachelor's degree
$76,120 – $210,16020,870
14Data Scientists$122,090
Bachelor's degree
$64,540 – $170,78025,860
15Engineers, All Other$115,810
Bachelor's degree
$64,430 – $177,78010,820
16Database Administrators$114,400
Bachelor's degree
$59,950 – $161,5906,430
17Mechanical Engineers$112,410
Bachelor's degree
$75,810 – $175,21022,080
18Computer Occupations, All Other$111,530
Bachelor's degree
$55,480 – $174,30057,020
19Computer Systems Analysts$107,390
Bachelor's degree
$72,530 – $168,14047,990
20Occupational Therapists$106,140
Master's degree
$76,350 – $135,20013,400
21Physical Therapists$105,810
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,600 – $139,05021,870
22Industrial Engineers$104,560
Bachelor's degree
$67,490 – $168,67030,980
23Financial Risk Specialists$103,760
Bachelor's degree
$64,250 – $159,2204,780
24Web and Digital Interface Designers$102,650
Bachelor's degree
$59,290 – $168,6205,910
25Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$101,850
Bachelor's degree
$59,010 – $153,38019,590
26Network and Computer Systems Administrators$101,240
Bachelor's degree
$63,650 – $155,43034,840
27Business Teachers, Postsecondary$101,210
Doctoral or professional degree
$40,550 – $212,1607,710
28Chemists$99,640
Bachelor's degree
$58,850 – $170,2505,130
29Computer Programmers$99,330
Bachelor's degree
$60,120 – $143,3007,620
30Dental Hygienists$99,240
Associate's degree
$71,530 – $117,89016,380
31Financial and Investment Analysts$99,150
Bachelor's degree
$63,230 – $169,99028,820
32Project Management Specialists$98,440
Bachelor's degree
$57,460 – $162,780138,960
33Civil Engineers$96,860
Bachelor's degree
$63,240 – $164,33034,870
34Registered Nurses$95,970
Bachelor's degree
$67,120 – $127,950271,380
35Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$92,580
Associate's degree
$64,360 – $106,0906,960
36Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$92,000
Bachelor's degree
$60,080 – $163,1105,630
37Operations Research Analysts$90,710
Bachelor's degree
$57,840 – $164,57011,890
38Web Developers$85,800
Bachelor's degree
$50,060 – $158,4604,910
39Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$84,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,600 – $122,18016,850
40Occupational Therapy Assistants$81,500
Associate's degree
$60,980 – $95,9005,610
41Accountants and Auditors$80,920
Bachelor's degree
$53,380 – $132,040116,470
42Business Operations Specialists, All Other$80,820
Bachelor's degree
$47,310 – $135,450104,270
43Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$80,470
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,870 – $144,06011,920
44Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$79,660
Bachelor's degree
$46,380 – $126,50017,920
45Respiratory Therapists$79,540
Associate's degree
$61,310 – $99,69012,130
46Mechanical Drafters$79,380
Associate's degree
$52,000 – $106,0804,630
47Credit Analysts$78,730
Bachelor's degree
$50,600 – $134,8606,130
48Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,630
Associate's degree
$48,550 – $102,63020,250
49Physical Therapist Assistants$78,000
Associate's degree
$43,900 – $99,64010,510
50Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$77,560
Master's degree
$40,170 – $128,2106,730

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

#	Occupation	MedianTexas	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Petroleum EngineersBachelor's degree	$164,860	$89,990 – $283,500	9,140
2	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$163,860	$92,940 – $216,260	7,390
3	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$162,360	$83,990 – $308,220	8,920
4	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$154,200	$79,340 – $349,490	56,580
5	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersBachelor's degree	$145,220	$60,100 – $287,180	4,900
6	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$138,260	$95,950 – $170,170	24,700
7	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$134,550	$102,650 – $169,000	10,110
8	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$132,220	$82,950 – $205,710	9,520
9	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$132,150	$82,600 – $183,680	163,880
10	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$131,670	$96,880 – $161,980	25,970
11	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$131,330	$76,510 – $203,920	6,270
12	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$130,270	$82,990 – $195,190	6,750
13	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$129,450	$76,120 – $210,160	20,870
14	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$122,090	$64,540 – $170,780	25,860
15	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$115,810	$64,430 – $177,780	10,820
16	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$114,400	$59,950 – $161,590	6,430
17	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$112,410	$75,810 – $175,210	22,080
18	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$111,530	$55,480 – $174,300	57,020
19	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$107,390	$72,530 – $168,140	47,990
20	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$106,140	$76,350 – $135,200	13,400
21	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$105,810	$76,600 – $139,050	21,870
22	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,560	$67,490 – $168,670	30,980
23	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$103,760	$64,250 – $159,220	4,780
24	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$102,650	$59,290 – $168,620	5,910
25	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$101,850	$59,010 – $153,380	19,590
26	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$101,240	$63,650 – $155,430	34,840
27	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$101,210	$40,550 – $212,160	7,710
28	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$99,640	$58,850 – $170,250	5,130
29	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$99,330	$60,120 – $143,300	7,620
30	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$99,240	$71,530 – $117,890	16,380
31	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$99,150	$63,230 – $169,990	28,820
32	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$98,440	$57,460 – $162,780	138,960
33	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$96,860	$63,240 – $164,330	34,870
34	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$95,970	$67,120 – $127,950	271,380
35	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$92,580	$64,360 – $106,090	6,960
36	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$92,000	$60,080 – $163,110	5,630
37	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$90,710	$57,840 – $164,570	11,890
38	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$85,800	$50,060 – $158,460	4,910
39	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,440	$48,600 – $122,180	16,850
40	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$81,500	$60,980 – $95,900	5,610
41	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$80,920	$53,380 – $132,040	116,470
42	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$80,820	$47,310 – $135,450	104,270
43	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$80,470	$63,870 – $144,060	11,920
44	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$79,660	$46,380 – $126,500	17,920
45	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,540	$61,310 – $99,690	12,130
46	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$79,380	$52,000 – $106,080	4,630
47	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$78,730	$50,600 – $134,860	6,130
48	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,630	$48,550 – $102,630	20,250
49	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$78,000	$43,900 – $99,640	10,510
50	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$77,560	$40,170 – $128,210	6,730

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Texas. 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.

More for Texas

Metro areas in Texas

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Texas

Without a degree

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

High paying entry level jobs in Texas

More for Texas

Metro areas in Texas

By field in Texas

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state