Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Midland, TX

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

Cost of living: prices in Midland, TX run 4.2% below the national average (2024), so a Midland, TX salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Midland, TX

OccupationMedian, Midland, TX · vs. national

1Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$219,140
Bachelor's degree
$80,030 – $289,730+115.0%
2Real Estate Sales Agents$109,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,600 – $218,420+107.8%
3Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$112,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $130,390+91.7%
4Chief Executives$389,330
Bachelor's degree
$159,140 – $765,080+81.9%
5Commercial Pilots$198,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$68,460 – $208,920+61.1%
6Physicians, All Other$417,970
Doctoral or professional degree
$169,480 – $470,120+57.2%
7Chemists$131,860
Bachelor's degree
$77,290 – $164,480+44.5%
8Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$96,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $269,110+37.9%
9Industrial Engineers$141,120
Bachelor's degree
$83,500 – $227,690+37.8%
10Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$83,300
Master's degree
$44,320 – $99,610+29.5%
11General and Operations Managers$132,420
Bachelor's degree
$56,040 – $335,350+25.2%
12Counselors, All Other$62,990
Master's degree
$42,340 – $71,990+23.8%
13Physical Therapist Assistants$82,620
Associate's degree
$62,990 – $102,000+20.8%
14Accountants and Auditors$100,890
Bachelor's degree
$61,920 – $172,570+20.6%
15Mechanical Drafters$86,100
Associate's degree
$53,500 – $128,990+20.3%
16Mechanical Engineers$125,200
Bachelor's degree
$78,280 – $227,830+20.3%
17Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors$137,030
Bachelor's degree
$104,990 – $262,710+19.0%
18Petroleum Engineers$172,070
Bachelor's degree
$90,620 – $298,530+18.7%
19Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$78,250
Bachelor's degree
$65,350 – $107,660+18.1%
20Computer Systems Analysts$124,540
Bachelor's degree
$74,790 – $166,540+17.7%
21Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$58,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,820 – $73,600+16.9%
22Physician Assistants$158,200
Master's degree
$56,030 – $178,260+16.4%
23Crane and Tower Operators$79,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,270 – $91,720+16.4%
24First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$122,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,200 – $138,570+15.7%
25Physical Therapists$118,450
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,380 – $151,050+15.3%
26Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$78,260
No formal educational credential
$51,790 – $108,830+15.3%
27Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$80,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,640 – $154,290+15.0%
28Environmental Engineers$123,060
Bachelor's degree
$84,690 – $212,150+14.9%
29Production Workers, All Other$46,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,770 – $63,240+14.8%
30Pharmacists$161,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,210 – $174,550+14.4%
31Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$61,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,440 – $89,480+14.3%
32Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$56,660
No formal educational credential
$38,650 – $57,490+14.0%
33Operations Research Analysts$100,390
Bachelor's degree
$53,460 – $110,120+12.9%
34Helpers--Electricians$48,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,360 – $56,120+12.6%
35First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$70,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,220 – $117,880+12.6%
36Administrative Services Managers$127,180
Bachelor's degree
$78,660 – $242,860+11.4%
37Sales Engineers$138,930
Bachelor's degree
$82,460 – $176,990+11.2%
38Public Relations Managers$163,180
Bachelor's degree
$78,270 – $310,250+11.1%
39Nurse Practitioners$146,610
Master's degree
$118,500 – $178,260+10.8%
40Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$54,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,700 – $69,290+10.4%
41Bill and Account Collectors$51,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,350 – $75,170+10.4%
42Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$81,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,100 – $104,280+9.8%
43Facilities Managers$116,540
Bachelor's degree
$70,570 – $214,660+9.3%
44Managers, All Other$154,630
Bachelor's degree
$91,200 – $273,280+9.0%
45Butchers and Meat Cutters$43,710
No formal educational credential
$27,450 – $69,820+8.9%
46Training and Development Managers$144,240
Bachelor's degree
$79,500 – $210,920+8.5%
47Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$60,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,370 – $79,760+8.1%
48First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$80,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,360 – $133,320+7.7%
49Industrial Production Managers$135,200
Bachelor's degree
$78,780 – $231,200+7.3%
50Automotive Body and Related Repairers$58,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,590 – $108,140+7.0%

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

#	Occupation	MedianMidland, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersBachelor's degree	$219,140	$80,030 – $289,730	+115.0%
2	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,760	$37,600 – $218,420	+107.8%
3	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$112,420	$47,600 – $130,390	+91.7%
4	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$389,330	$159,140 – $765,080	+81.9%
5	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$198,480	$68,460 – $208,920	+61.1%
6	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$417,970	$169,480 – $470,120	+57.2%
7	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$131,860	$77,290 – $164,480	+44.5%
8	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,500	$39,110 – $269,110	+37.9%
9	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$141,120	$83,500 – $227,690	+37.8%
10	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$83,300	$44,320 – $99,610	+29.5%
11	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$132,420	$56,040 – $335,350	+25.2%
12	Counselors, All OtherMaster's degree	$62,990	$42,340 – $71,990	+23.8%
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$82,620	$62,990 – $102,000	+20.8%
14	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$100,890	$61,920 – $172,570	+20.6%
15	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$86,100	$53,500 – $128,990	+20.3%
16	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$125,200	$78,280 – $227,830	+20.3%
17	Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsBachelor's degree	$137,030	$104,990 – $262,710	+19.0%
18	Petroleum EngineersBachelor's degree	$172,070	$90,620 – $298,530	+18.7%
19	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$78,250	$65,350 – $107,660	+18.1%
20	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$124,540	$74,790 – $166,540	+17.7%
21	Miscellaneous Construction and Related WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,360	$37,820 – $73,600	+16.9%
22	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$158,200	$56,030 – $178,260	+16.4%
23	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,220	$63,270 – $91,720	+16.4%
24	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,740	$75,200 – $138,570	+15.7%
25	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$118,450	$77,380 – $151,050	+15.3%
26	Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$78,260	$51,790 – $108,830	+15.3%
27	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,460	$38,640 – $154,290	+15.0%
28	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$123,060	$84,690 – $212,150	+14.9%
29	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,060	$32,770 – $63,240	+14.8%
30	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$161,260	$61,210 – $174,550	+14.4%
31	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,410	$43,440 – $89,480	+14.3%
32	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$56,660	$38,650 – $57,490	+14.0%
33	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$100,390	$53,460 – $110,120	+12.9%
34	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,050	$36,360 – $56,120	+12.6%
35	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,840	$44,220 – $117,880	+12.6%
36	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$127,180	$78,660 – $242,860	+11.4%
37	Sales EngineersBachelor's degree	$138,930	$82,460 – $176,990	+11.2%
38	Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree	$163,180	$78,270 – $310,250	+11.1%
39	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$146,610	$118,500 – $178,260	+10.8%
40	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,090	$48,700 – $69,290	+10.4%
41	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,930	$39,350 – $75,170	+10.4%
42	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,620	$47,100 – $104,280	+9.8%
43	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$116,540	$70,570 – $214,660	+9.3%
44	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$154,630	$91,200 – $273,280	+9.0%
45	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$43,710	$27,450 – $69,820	+8.9%
46	Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree	$144,240	$79,500 – $210,920	+8.5%
47	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,070	$45,370 – $79,760	+8.1%
48	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,170	$50,360 – $133,320	+7.7%
49	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$135,200	$78,780 – $231,200	+7.3%
50	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,750	$34,590 – $108,140	+7.0%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Midland, TX

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