Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Each occupation's median wage in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$174,490
Bachelor's degree
$65,480 – $293,090+71.2%
2Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$79,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,630 – $106,230+36.9%
3Chemical Plant and System Operators$106,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,920 – $124,930+35.7%
4Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$307,690
Bachelor's degree
$104,110 – $456,570+32.5%
5Chief Executives$275,270
Bachelor's degree
$121,650 – $633,110+28.6%
6Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$118,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$68,840 – $176,420+28.5%
7Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$103,010
Doctoral or professional degree
$53,860 – $173,490+28.4%
8Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$96,050
Master's degree
$46,210 – $169,500+22.2%
9Mechanical Engineers$125,350
Bachelor's degree
$79,470 – $198,730+20.4%
10Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$75,930
Master's degree
$46,770 – $106,510+18.0%
11Health Education Specialists$75,350
Bachelor's degree
$46,500 – $131,480+17.6%
12Petroleum Engineers$169,870
Bachelor's degree
$89,990 – $288,530+17.2%
13Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$79,450
No formal educational credential
$51,400 – $134,860+17.0%
14Chemists$106,740
Bachelor's degree
$63,370 – $170,540+17.0%
15Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$74,570
Bachelor's degree
$39,790 – $110,840+16.8%
16Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,190
Associate's degree
$45,650 – $126,540+16.7%
17Calibration Technologists and Technicians$78,610
Associate's degree
$47,100 – $107,300+15.9%
18Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$95,170
Bachelor's degree
$60,840 – $160,530+15.8%
19Wellhead Pumpers$79,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,790 – $98,210+14.0%
20Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$67,370
Master's degree
$37,540 – $95,760+13.5%
21General and Operations Managers$119,600
Bachelor's degree
$50,490 – $296,070+13.1%
22Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors$130,280
Bachelor's degree
$83,050 – $213,790+13.1%
23Physical Therapist Assistants$77,280
Associate's degree
$42,480 – $101,290+13.0%
24Crane and Tower Operators$75,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,680 – $99,050+10.9%
25Database Administrators$116,030
Bachelor's degree
$60,730 – $159,890+10.9%
26Chemical Engineers$138,120
Bachelor's degree
$99,890 – $217,260+10.5%
27Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$75,280
Master's degree
$53,990 – $101,470+10.3%
28Mechanical Drafters$78,820
Associate's degree
$54,990 – $130,490+10.2%
29Physicians, All Other$292,490
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,390 – $457,450+10.0%
30Surgical Technologists$71,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,950 – $94,670+9.9%
31Industrial Engineers$111,690
Bachelor's degree
$73,840 – $174,320+9.0%
32Electrical Engineers$131,070
Bachelor's degree
$77,170 – $207,990+8.7%
33Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$63,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,750 – $100,090+8.2%
34Sailors and Marine Oilers$55,610
No formal educational credential
$38,360 – $101,140+7.9%
35Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$57,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,480 – $81,940+7.8%
36Chemical Technicians$65,050
Associate's degree
$44,540 – $110,810+7.7%
37Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$62,910
No formal educational credential
$45,180 – $83,530+7.3%
38Computer Systems Analysts$113,440
Bachelor's degree
$70,910 – $168,540+7.2%
39Dental Hygienists$104,930
Associate's degree
$85,550 – $108,590+7.0%
40Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$85,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,140 – $131,090+6.9%
41Skincare Specialists$48,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$20,210 – $78,540+6.4%
42Industrial Production Managers$133,870
Bachelor's degree
$81,830 – $216,430+6.2%
43Engineers, All Other$130,270
Bachelor's degree
$63,700 – $195,190+6.0%
44Healthcare Social Workers$71,900
Master's degree
$46,400 – $100,490+5.9%
45Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$44,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,210 – $58,580+5.6%
46Business Teachers, Postsecondary$104,320
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,730 – $196,200+5.3%
47Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$65,970
Bachelor's degree
$47,130 – $72,700+5.2%
48Helpers--Electricians$44,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,100 – $56,630+5.1%
49Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$77,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,900 – $113,010+5.1%
50Physical Therapists$107,700
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,250 – $142,570+4.8%

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	vs. national
1	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersBachelor's degree	$174,490	$65,480 – $293,090	+71.2%
2	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,430	$36,630 – $106,230	+36.9%
3	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,020	$59,920 – $124,930	+35.7%
4	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$307,690	$104,110 – $456,570	+32.5%
5	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$275,270	$121,650 – $633,110	+28.6%
6	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$118,830	$68,840 – $176,420	+28.5%
7	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,010	$53,860 – $173,490	+28.4%
8	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$96,050	$46,210 – $169,500	+22.2%
9	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$125,350	$79,470 – $198,730	+20.4%
10	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$75,930	$46,770 – $106,510	+18.0%
11	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$75,350	$46,500 – $131,480	+17.6%
12	Petroleum EngineersBachelor's degree	$169,870	$89,990 – $288,530	+17.2%
13	Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$79,450	$51,400 – $134,860	+17.0%
14	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$106,740	$63,370 – $170,540	+17.0%
15	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$74,570	$39,790 – $110,840	+16.8%
16	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,190	$45,650 – $126,540	+16.7%
17	Calibration Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,610	$47,100 – $107,300	+15.9%
18	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$95,170	$60,840 – $160,530	+15.8%
19	Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,720	$56,790 – $98,210	+14.0%
20	Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health CounselorsMaster's degree	$67,370	$37,540 – $95,760	+13.5%
21	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$119,600	$50,490 – $296,070	+13.1%
22	Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsBachelor's degree	$130,280	$83,050 – $213,790	+13.1%
23	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,280	$42,480 – $101,290	+13.0%
24	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,500	$38,680 – $99,050	+10.9%
25	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$116,030	$60,730 – $159,890	+10.9%
26	Chemical EngineersBachelor's degree	$138,120	$99,890 – $217,260	+10.5%
27	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$75,280	$53,990 – $101,470	+10.3%
28	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$78,820	$54,990 – $130,490	+10.2%
29	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$292,490	$73,390 – $457,450	+10.0%
30	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,050	$46,950 – $94,670	+9.9%
31	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$111,690	$73,840 – $174,320	+9.0%
32	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$131,070	$77,170 – $207,990	+8.7%
33	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,470	$45,750 – $100,090	+8.2%
34	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$55,610	$38,360 – $101,140	+7.9%
35	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,940	$38,480 – $81,940	+7.8%
36	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,050	$44,540 – $110,810	+7.7%
37	Derrick Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$62,910	$45,180 – $83,530	+7.3%
38	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$113,440	$70,910 – $168,540	+7.2%
39	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$104,930	$85,550 – $108,590	+7.0%
40	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,400	$48,140 – $131,090	+6.9%
41	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,250	$20,210 – $78,540	+6.4%
42	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$133,870	$81,830 – $216,430	+6.2%
43	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$130,270	$63,700 – $195,190	+6.0%
44	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$71,900	$46,400 – $100,490	+5.9%
45	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,750	$37,210 – $58,580	+5.6%
46	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$104,320	$48,730 – $196,200	+5.3%
47	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$65,970	$47,130 – $72,700	+5.2%
48	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,840	$36,100 – $56,630	+5.1%
49	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,880	$50,900 – $113,010	+5.1%
50	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$107,700	$78,250 – $142,570	+4.8%

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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.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

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