Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Each occupation's median wage in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Brownsville-Harlingen, TX pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX run 14.0% below the national average (2024), so a Brownsville-Harlingen, TX salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

OccupationMedian, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX · vs. national

1Self-Enrichment Teachers$73,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,180 – $73,430+56.9%
2Sailors and Marine Oilers$65,940
No formal educational credential
$36,870 – $86,800+28.0%
3Physicians, All Other$330,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$101,380 – $472,190+24.4%
4Compliance Officers$97,470
Bachelor's degree
$48,460 – $125,550+20.7%
5Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$69,770
Master's degree
$36,580 – $78,750+17.6%
6Detectives and Criminal Investigators$109,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,620 – $112,260+16.5%
7Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$77,930
Master's degree
$53,870 – $102,090+14.1%
8Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$72,520
Master's degree
$42,100 – $101,500+12.7%
9Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$103,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,390 – $149,290+12.3%
10Physical Therapist Assistants$73,020
Associate's degree
$47,750 – $92,670+6.8%
11Athletic Trainers$66,490
Master's degree
$51,820 – $131,100+6.3%
12Engineers, All Other$129,990
Bachelor's degree
$80,070 – $154,700+5.7%
13Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$39,170
No formal educational credential
$22,610 – $47,610+5.0%
14Pharmacy Aides$39,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,930 – $45,310+3.8%
15Speech-Language Pathologists$100,940
Master's degree
$66,720 – $132,610+3.1%
16Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$38,160
No formal educational credential
$24,540 – $62,770+2.6%
17Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030+2.4%
18Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$46,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,970 – $72,800+1.4%
19Physical Therapists$103,810
Doctoral or professional degree
$72,300 – $144,150+1.0%
20Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$64,420
Bachelor's degree
$37,610 – $83,770+0.9%
21Tour and Travel Guides$38,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,240 – $47,330-0.1%
22Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$36,710
Some college, no degree
$22,730 – $47,620-0.2%
23Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,190
Associate's degree
$53,710 – $85,670-0.2%
24Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,350
Bachelor's degree
$55,860 – $72,470-1.0%
25Occupational Therapists$99,310
Master's degree
$73,100 – $136,020-1.0%
26Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $86,470-1.1%
27Social and Human Service Assistants$45,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,420 – $55,580-1.2%
28Information and Record Clerks, All Other$48,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,290 – $64,940-1.3%
29Mechanical Engineers$102,350
Bachelor's degree
$72,700 – $133,110-1.7%
30First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$47,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,410 – $59,480-2.4%
31Transportation Security Screeners$65,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,110 – $71,280-2.4%
32Business Operations Specialists, All Other$81,070
Bachelor's degree
$45,350 – $130,830-2.4%
33Instructional Coordinators$75,520
Master's degree
$44,060 – $105,760-2.5%
34Education Administrators, Postsecondary$101,870
Master's degree
$67,660 – $220,140-2.6%
35Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$62,000
Bachelor's degree
$57,470 – $72,730-3.7%
36Dietitians and Nutritionists$73,250
Bachelor's degree
$31,070 – $96,100-4.1%
37Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School$62,210
Bachelor's degree
$58,700 – $72,370-4.3%
38Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,320 – $97,470-5.2%
39Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$40,520
Bachelor's degree
$25,980 – $57,520-5.6%
40Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$73,900
Associate's degree
$46,270 – $100,150-5.7%
41Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$61,440
Bachelor's degree
$57,960 – $70,930-5.7%
42Nurse Practitioners$124,530
Master's degree
$86,300 – $168,880-5.9%
43Special Education Teachers, Middle School$62,720
Bachelor's degree
$50,950 – $71,450-6.1%
44Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$62,260
Bachelor's degree
$58,300 – $74,270-6.1%
45Physician Assistants$127,370
Master's degree
$101,570 – $155,700-6.3%
46Pharmacists$131,280
Doctoral or professional degree
$96,850 – $174,600-6.8%
47Stockers and Order Fillers$34,680
No formal educational credential
$27,210 – $44,990-7.1%
48Butchers and Meat Cutters$37,200
No formal educational credential
$21,470 – $57,090-7.3%
49Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$73,750
Doctoral or professional degree
$55,200 – $167,660-8.1%
50Architectural and Engineering Managers$157,160
Bachelor's degree
$111,480 – $200,570-8.2%

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

#	Occupation	MedianBrownsville-Harlingen, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,430	$25,180 – $73,430	+56.9%
2	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$65,940	$36,870 – $86,800	+28.0%
3	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$330,890	$101,380 – $472,190	+24.4%
4	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$97,470	$48,460 – $125,550	+20.7%
5	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$69,770	$36,580 – $78,750	+17.6%
6	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,300	$56,620 – $112,260	+16.5%
7	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$77,930	$53,870 – $102,090	+14.1%
8	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$72,520	$42,100 – $101,500	+12.7%
9	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$103,800	$36,390 – $149,290	+12.3%
10	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,020	$47,750 – $92,670	+6.8%
11	Athletic TrainersMaster's degree	$66,490	$51,820 – $131,100	+6.3%
12	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$129,990	$80,070 – $154,700	+5.7%
13	Shuttle Drivers and ChauffeursNo formal educational credential	$39,170	$22,610 – $47,610	+5.0%
14	Pharmacy AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,100	$31,930 – $45,310	+3.8%
15	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$100,940	$66,720 – $132,610	+3.1%
16	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$38,160	$24,540 – $62,770	+2.6%
17	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $75,030	+2.4%
18	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,560	$29,970 – $72,800	+1.4%
19	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$103,810	$72,300 – $144,150	+1.0%
20	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$64,420	$37,610 – $83,770	+0.9%
21	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,090	$24,240 – $47,330	-0.1%
22	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$36,710	$22,730 – $47,620	-0.2%
23	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,190	$53,710 – $85,670	-0.2%
24	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$63,350	$55,860 – $72,470	-1.0%
25	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$99,310	$73,100 – $136,020	-1.0%
26	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $86,470	-1.1%
27	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,360	$29,420 – $55,580	-1.2%
28	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,870	$31,290 – $64,940	-1.3%
29	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$102,350	$72,700 – $133,110	-1.7%
30	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,400	$27,410 – $59,480	-2.4%
31	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,170	$61,110 – $71,280	-2.4%
32	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$81,070	$45,350 – $130,830	-2.4%
33	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$75,520	$44,060 – $105,760	-2.5%
34	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$101,870	$67,660 – $220,140	-2.6%
35	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$62,000	$57,470 – $72,730	-3.7%
36	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$73,250	$31,070 – $96,100	-4.1%
37	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$62,210	$58,700 – $72,370	-4.3%
38	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,920	$33,320 – $97,470	-5.2%
39	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$40,520	$25,980 – $57,520	-5.6%
40	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$73,900	$46,270 – $100,150	-5.7%
41	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$61,440	$57,960 – $70,930	-5.7%
42	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$124,530	$86,300 – $168,880	-5.9%
43	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$62,720	$50,950 – $71,450	-6.1%
44	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$62,260	$58,300 – $74,270	-6.1%
45	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$127,370	$101,570 – $155,700	-6.3%
46	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$131,280	$96,850 – $174,600	-6.8%
47	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$34,680	$27,210 – $44,990	-7.1%
48	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$37,200	$21,470 – $57,090	-7.3%
49	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$73,750	$55,200 – $167,660	-8.1%
50	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$157,160	$111,480 – $200,570	-8.2%

More for Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

By field in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Without a degree

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

More for Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Other metro areas in TX

By field in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state