Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Odessa, TX

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

Cost of living: prices in Odessa, TX run 6.1% below the national average (2024), so a Odessa, TX salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Odessa, TX

OccupationMedian, Odessa, TX · vs. national

1Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$101,810
Master's degree
$42,230 – $119,980+58.3%
2Chief Executives$281,480
Bachelor's degree
$133,830 – $742,350+31.5%
3Instructional Coordinators$100,770
Master's degree
$49,480 – $100,770+30.1%
4Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$129,730
Bachelor's degree
$57,910 – $282,970+27.3%
5Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$92,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,930 – $100,400+24.8%
6Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$84,260
Master's degree
$59,230 – $99,610+23.4%
7Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$96,960
Doctoral or professional degree
$53,690 – $126,860+20.8%
8Management Analysts$122,080
Bachelor's degree
$59,780 – $170,400+19.9%
9Healthcare Social Workers$81,310
Master's degree
$56,590 – $100,420+19.8%
10Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$63,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,590 – $84,090+18.1%
11Business Operations Specialists, All Other$97,720
Bachelor's degree
$49,790 – $124,000+17.7%
12Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$56,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $85,540+12.5%
13Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$54,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,420 – $79,100+11.7%
14Crane and Tower Operators$75,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,030 – $88,970+10.6%
15Production Workers, All Other$44,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,530 – $56,680+9.7%
16Occupational Therapists$109,220
Master's degree
$84,680 – $132,260+8.9%
17Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$104,280
Associate's degree
$72,790 – $105,650+8.0%
18Sales Engineers$134,740
Bachelor's degree
$84,370 – $181,740+7.9%
19Wellhead Pumpers$75,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $100,240+7.8%
20Mechanical Engineers$111,700
Bachelor's degree
$75,910 – $173,140+7.3%
21Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,690 – $63,120+6.9%
22Physical Therapists$109,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,660 – $132,080+6.7%
23Stockers and Order Fillers$39,810
No formal educational credential
$28,840 – $49,960+6.6%
24Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$65,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,290 – $95,740+6.4%
25First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$51,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,860 – $63,870+6.0%
26First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$84,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,200 – $128,220+5.9%
27Order Clerks$48,640
Some college, no degree
$37,030 – $70,010+5.3%
28Coaches and Scouts$49,730
Bachelor's degree
$24,260 – $130,450+5.1%
29Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,130
Associate's degree
$56,940 – $107,990+5.0%
30Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$73,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $144,320+4.8%
31Physical Therapist Assistants$70,470
Associate's degree
$37,970 – $89,350+3.1%
32Self-Enrichment Teachers$48,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,470 – $54,010+3.1%
33Facilities Managers$109,740
Bachelor's degree
$64,640 – $160,530+2.9%
34Industrial Engineers$105,390
Bachelor's degree
$74,250 – $165,900+2.9%
35Machinists$59,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,910 – $78,140+1.7%
36Special Education Teachers, Middle School$67,910
Bachelor's degree
$49,350 – $71,230+1.6%
37Cost Estimators$79,760
Bachelor's degree
$52,260 – $139,620+1.3%
38Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$37,320
No formal educational credential
$25,980 – $46,170+1.3%
39Calibration Technologists and Technicians$68,630
Associate's degree
$46,840 – $102,670+1.2%
40Administrative Services Managers$115,470
Bachelor's degree
$74,620 – $199,400+1.2%
41Speech-Language Pathologists$98,920
Master's degree
$82,580 – $125,120+1.1%
42Security Guards$38,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,090 – $78,970+1.1%
43Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$39,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,960 – $59,680+0.9%
44Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,660 – $59,590+0.5%
45Animal Caretakers$35,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,780 – $53,710+0.4%
46Automotive Body and Related Repairers$55,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,200 – $104,320+0.4%
47Computer User Support Specialists$62,120
Some college, no degree
$44,500 – $82,360+0.4%
48Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,940 – $95,990+0.4%
49Chemical Technicians$60,580
Associate's degree
$48,640 – $101,540+0.3%
50Pharmacists$141,260
Doctoral or professional degree
$95,410 – $170,940+0.2%

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

#	Occupation	MedianOdessa, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$101,810	$42,230 – $119,980	+58.3%
2	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$281,480	$133,830 – $742,350	+31.5%
3	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$100,770	$49,480 – $100,770	+30.1%
4	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersBachelor's degree	$129,730	$57,910 – $282,970	+27.3%
5	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,750	$43,930 – $100,400	+24.8%
6	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$84,260	$59,230 – $99,610	+23.4%
7	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$96,960	$53,690 – $126,860	+20.8%
8	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$122,080	$59,780 – $170,400	+19.9%
9	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$81,310	$56,590 – $100,420	+19.8%
10	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,470	$42,590 – $84,090	+18.1%
11	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$97,720	$49,790 – $124,000	+17.7%
12	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,620	$37,440 – $85,540	+12.5%
13	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,980	$35,420 – $79,100	+11.7%
14	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,310	$55,030 – $88,970	+10.6%
15	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,000	$34,530 – $56,680	+9.7%
16	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$109,220	$84,680 – $132,260	+8.9%
17	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$104,280	$72,790 – $105,650	+8.0%
18	Sales EngineersBachelor's degree	$134,740	$84,370 – $181,740	+7.9%
19	Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,450	$35,700 – $100,240	+7.8%
20	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$111,700	$75,910 – $173,140	+7.3%
21	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,360	$40,690 – $63,120	+6.9%
22	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$109,690	$78,660 – $132,080	+6.7%
23	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$39,810	$28,840 – $49,960	+6.6%
24	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,480	$39,290 – $95,740	+6.4%
25	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,520	$31,860 – $63,870	+6.0%
26	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,570	$48,200 – $128,220	+5.9%
27	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$48,640	$37,030 – $70,010	+5.3%
28	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$49,730	$24,260 – $130,450	+5.1%
29	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,130	$56,940 – $107,990	+5.0%
30	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,350	$37,380 – $144,320	+4.8%
31	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,470	$37,970 – $89,350	+3.1%
32	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,240	$26,470 – $54,010	+3.1%
33	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$109,740	$64,640 – $160,530	+2.9%
34	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$105,390	$74,250 – $165,900	+2.9%
35	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,770	$40,910 – $78,140	+1.7%
36	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$67,910	$49,350 – $71,230	+1.6%
37	Cost EstimatorsBachelor's degree	$79,760	$52,260 – $139,620	+1.3%
38	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$37,320	$25,980 – $46,170	+1.3%
39	Calibration Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,630	$46,840 – $102,670	+1.2%
40	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$115,470	$74,620 – $199,400	+1.2%
41	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$98,920	$82,580 – $125,120	+1.1%
42	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,420	$28,090 – $78,970	+1.1%
43	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,970	$24,960 – $59,680	+0.9%
44	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,880	$35,660 – $59,590	+0.5%
45	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,500	$22,780 – $53,710	+0.4%
46	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,100	$34,200 – $104,320	+0.4%
47	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,120	$44,500 – $82,360	+0.4%
48	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,740	$46,940 – $95,990	+0.4%
49	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,580	$48,640 – $101,540	+0.3%
50	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$141,260	$95,410 – $170,940	+0.2%

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