Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
64 Highest Paying Jobs in Houston, TX (2026)
The highest-paying job in Houston, TX, Texas is Computer and Information Systems Manager with a median salary of $172,160 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. Across all 64 tracked occupations the average median is $103,352, with 37 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Houston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 96.5 (national average = 100), so a $103,352 nominal salary equals $107,101 in average-cost-metro buying power.
The 64 occupations below are ranked by median wage in Houston, TX, TX, from BLS OEWS data. Houston, TX's cost-of-living index runs 96.5 (national baseline = 100), which shapes the headline-wage interpretation. Top-paying occupations in any U.S. metro typically cluster around physicians, dentists, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals. The specific top of the list varies with local industry concentration: tech-heavy metros boost software-engineering ranks, finance-heavy metros boost banking ranks.
Each role on the ranking links to the per-role-and-city page with full percentile distribution (p10 to p90), employment count, and cost-adjusted wage. For workers comparing offers within Houston, TX, the percentile data is the most decision-relevant.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Houston, TX
Ranked by median (50th percentile) salary. The COL-Adjusted column rebases each nominal salary to Houston, TX's cost-of-living index of 96.5 so you can compare buying power against an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $172,160 · 10th–90th $106,600–$275,130 · 13,090 jobs in metro
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Houston, TX earn $172,160 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $275,130.
Median $166,910 · 10th–90th $102,400–$310,750 · 18,570 jobs in metro
Financial Managers in Houston, TX earn $166,910 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $310,750.
Median $157,980 · 10th–90th $80,210–$363,120 · 16,810 jobs in metro
Lawyers in Houston, TX earn $157,980 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $363,120.
Median $153,030 · 10th–90th $80,760–$259,100 · 8,930 jobs in metro
Marketing Managers in Houston, TX earn $153,030 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $259,100.
Median $142,110 · 10th–90th $88,380–$224,150 · 5,890 jobs in metro
Human Resources Managers in Houston, TX earn $142,110 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $224,150.
Median $140,470 · 10th–90th $83,200–$170,170 · 6,410 jobs in metro
Pharmacists in Houston, TX earn $140,470 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $170,170.
Median $137,240 · 10th–90th $90,920–$168,240 · 2,390 jobs in metro
Physician Assistants in Houston, TX earn $137,240 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $168,240.
Median $135,880 · 10th–90th $68,680–$269,000 · 16,430 jobs in metro
Sales Managers in Houston, TX earn $135,880 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $269,000.
Median $134,560 · 10th–90th $96,880–$158,830 · 5,970 jobs in metro
Nurse Practitioners in Houston, TX earn $134,560 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $158,830.
Median $134,050 · 10th–90th $69,840–$199,830 · 380 jobs in metro
Software Quality Assurance Analysts in Houston, TX earn $134,050 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $199,830.
Full Ranking (64 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median | 10th–90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $172,160 | $106,600–$275,130 | $178,404 | 13,090 |
| 2 | Financial Manager | Finance | $166,910 | $102,400–$310,750 | $172,964 | 18,570 |
| 3 | Lawyer | Legal | $157,980 | $80,210–$363,120 | $163,710 | 16,810 |
| 4 | Marketing Manager | Management | $153,030 | $80,760–$259,100 | $158,580 | 8,930 |
| 5 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $142,110 | $88,380–$224,150 | $147,264 | 5,890 |
| 6 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $140,470 | $83,200–$170,170 | $145,565 | 6,410 |
| 7 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $137,240 | $90,920–$168,240 | $142,218 | 2,390 |
| 8 | Sales Manager | Management | $135,880 | $68,680–$269,000 | $140,808 | 16,430 |
| 9 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $134,560 | $96,880–$158,830 | $139,440 | 5,970 |
| 10 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $134,050 | $69,840–$199,830 | $138,912 | 380 |
| 11 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $132,280 | $81,390–$207,660 | $137,078 | 1,340 |
| 12 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $131,070 | $77,170–$207,990 | $135,824 | 5,770 |
| 13 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $130,270 | $63,700–$195,190 | $134,995 | 3,490 |
| 14 | Software Developer | Technology | $129,440 | $80,400–$181,770 | $134,135 | 22,940 |
| 15 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $126,370 | $74,290–$178,560 | $130,953 | 2,110 |
| 16 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $125,350 | $79,470–$198,730 | $129,896 | 8,310 |
| 17 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $124,900 | $67,020–$171,760 | $129,430 | 2,200 |
| 18 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $124,640 | $96,020–$162,010 | $129,161 | 1,250 |
| 19 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $124,400 | $73,410–$206,550 | $128,912 | 12,410 |
| 20 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $124,190 | $73,300–$377,000 | $128,694 | 1,040 |
| 21 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $119,600 | $50,490–$296,070 | $123,938 | 97,320 |
| 22 | Database Architect | Technology | $116,030 | $60,730–$159,890 | $120,238 | 1,090 |
| 23 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $113,440 | $70,910–$168,540 | $117,554 | 8,510 |
| 24 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $111,690 | $73,840–$174,320 | $115,741 | 8,620 |
| 25 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $107,700 | $78,250–$142,570 | $111,606 | 4,680 |
| 26 | Data Scientist | Technology | $106,750 | $62,980–$167,230 | $110,622 | 4,060 |
| 27 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $105,440 | $49,500–$173,590 | $109,264 | 11,460 |
| 28 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $105,430 | $77,910–$137,340 | $109,254 | 210 |
| 29 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $104,930 | $85,550–$108,590 | $108,736 | 3,060 |
| 30 | Statistician | Technology | $104,330 | $64,480–$165,010 | $108,114 | 400 |
| 31 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $104,320 | $48,730–$196,200 | $108,104 | 1,270 |
| 32 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $103,580 | $78,790–$140,720 | $107,337 | 2,700 |
| 33 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $101,660 | $66,730–$174,220 | $105,347 | 6,510 |
| 34 | Network Architect | Technology | $101,430 | $66,770–$157,980 | $105,109 | 6,330 |
| 35 | Management Analyst | Management | $101,120 | $63,170–$169,570 | $104,788 | 9,050 |
| 36 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $100,950 | $67,250–$168,240 | $104,611 | 12,140 |
| 37 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $100,400 | $69,650–$135,580 | $104,041 | 3,780 |
| 38 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $99,830 | $74,860–$130,440 | $103,451 | 65,910 |
| 39 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $98,930 | $49,120–$323,990 | $102,518 | 4,130 |
| 40 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $98,690 | $51,800–$147,360 | $102,269 | 2,420 |
| 41 | Dentist | Healthcare | $98,570 | $76,790–$306,110 | $102,145 | 1,660 |
| 42 | Architect | Engineering | $97,590 | $60,690–$147,470 | $101,130 | 2,360 |
| 43 | Web Developer | Technology | $96,750 | $55,060–$165,700 | $100,259 | 830 |
| 44 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $96,440 | $56,180–$145,510 | $99,938 | 1,340 |
| 45 | Web Designer | Technology | $89,040 | $52,000–$143,640 | $92,269 | 1,060 |
| 46 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $86,380 | $60,120–$171,580 | $89,513 | 2,500 |
| 47 | Accountant | Finance | $85,090 | $58,780–$144,190 | $88,176 | 28,400 |
| 48 | Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $83,050 | $72,000–$374,400 | $86,062 | 300 |
| 49 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $82,990 | $51,150–$169,810 | $86,000 | 650 |
| 50 | Writer/Author | Creative | $76,120 | $48,670–$116,090 | $78,881 | 400 |
| 51 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $74,140 | $49,600–$104,990 | $76,829 | 1,990 |
| 52 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $68,320 | $40,290–$109,640 | $70,798 | 5,160 |
| 53 | Loan Officer | Finance | $67,560 | $26,160–$172,540 | $70,010 | 3,410 |
| 54 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $67,370 | $26,950–$125,760 | $69,813 | 14,480 |
| 55 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $65,540 | $56,760–$80,470 | $67,917 | 26,260 |
| 56 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $64,500 | $46,390–$74,430 | $66,839 | 30,980 |
| 57 | Paralegal | Legal | $62,730 | $42,160–$101,370 | $65,005 | 7,320 |
| 58 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $61,350 | $39,410–$98,500 | $63,575 | 7,410 |
| 59 | Plumber | Trades | $61,300 | $39,920–$85,680 | $63,523 | 10,980 |
| 60 | Electrician | Trades | $59,180 | $38,800–$84,470 | $61,326 | 19,730 |
| 61 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $58,400 | $34,270–$90,590 | $60,518 | 2,770 |
| 62 | Welder | Trades | $57,940 | $38,480–$81,940 | $60,041 | 15,850 |
| 63 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $50,940 | $29,380–$83,180 | $52,788 | 14,910 |
| 64 | Carpenter | Trades | $49,670 | $39,470–$68,500 | $51,472 | 9,600 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Houston, TX
Houston, TX's pay distribution is driven by the energy sector — oil-and-gas operations, refining, and engineering services anchor unusually high pay for petroleum, chemical, and mechanical engineers. Healthcare (Texas Medical Center) is the second major anchor.
An average median salary above $90K places this metro in the top tier of U.S. cities for nominal pay. Most of that premium accrues to the upper percentiles of skilled and managerial occupations; entry-level and service-sector pay is closer to national norms.
Houston, TX's cost-of-living index of 96.5 runs 4% below the U.S. national average. Lower nominal pay here often translates to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs — see the COL-Adjusted column for the apples-to-apples figure.
How to Use This Ranking
For salary negotiation, the median is a starting anchor — not the ceiling. A Computer and Information Systems Manager with five-plus years of experience in Houston, TX should be benchmarking against the 75th percentile ($223,645) or 90th percentile ($275,130), not the $172,160 median. Use the salary percentile calculator to place any specific salary into the BLS distribution for any role-and-city pair.
For cross-city comparisons, ignore the nominal Median column and look at COL-Adjusted. A $172K Computer and Information Systems Manager salary in Houston, TX (COL 96.5) translates to $178K of buying power in an average-cost metro — that is the apples-to-apples figure when weighing a relocation. Read the methodology behind these adjustments in our methodology page.
For job hunting, focus on the top-10 ranking above and on the role-by-role detail pages — each links through to a Computer and Information Systems Manager in Houston, TX page with full percentile breakdowns, year-over-year change, and prevailing-wage references for H-1B / PERM applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Houston, TX is Computer and Information Systems Manager with a median salary of $172,160 and a 90th-percentile reading of $275,130. The role employs roughly 13,090 workers in this metro according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2025 OEWS data.
37 of the 64 BLS-tracked occupations in Houston, TX have a median salary of $100,000 or higher. That is well above what most U.S. metros offer. See the full list ranked by median salary above.
Across 64 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Houston, TX is $103,352. The cost-of-living index is 96.5, so adjusted to a national-average baseline, the average is $107,101 in equivalent purchasing power.
Houston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 96.5, below the national average. Nominal pay translates better than face value, making it a strong choice for many careers — particularly the Computer and Information Systems Manager, Financial Manager, Lawyer occupations at the top of the ranking.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers across all industries. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile wages by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The same data is used by the Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Related Pages
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 reference period. COL adjustments use a composite cost-of-living index calibrated to U.S. average = 100.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.