Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024 reference period
52 Highest Paying Jobs in Texas (2026)
The highest-paying job in Texas is Computer and Information Systems Manager with a state-aggregated median salary of $169,989 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 3 BLS-tracked metros. Across all 52 occupations the average median is $99,217, with 26 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Texas's average cost-of-living index is 101, so the average median equates to $98,235 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Texas
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across Texas's 3 BLS-tracked metros.
State median $169,989 · 53,790 jobs · top metro: Austin ($173,300)
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Texas earn $169,989 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Austin) pays $173,300 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $165,136 · 48,870 jobs · top metro: Austin ($168,100)
Financial Managers in Texas earn $165,136 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Austin) pays $168,100 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $149,724 · 32,560 jobs · top metro: Austin ($162,150)
Marketing Managers in Texas earn $149,724 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Austin) pays $162,150 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $145,398 · 40,140 jobs · top metro: Dallas ($157,340)
Lawyers in Texas earn $145,398 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Dallas) pays $157,340 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $138,827 · 14,240 jobs · top metro: Austin ($141,500)
Pharmacists in Texas earn $138,827 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Austin) pays $141,500 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $135,856 · 53,730 jobs · top metro: Austin ($141,430)
Sales Managers in Texas earn $135,856 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Austin) pays $141,430 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $134,380 · 6,140 jobs · top metro: Austin ($151,570)
Physician Assistants in Texas earn $134,380 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Austin) pays $151,570 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $133,627 · 10,400 jobs · top metro: Houston ($136,110)
Human Resources Managers in Texas earn $133,627 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Houston) pays $136,110 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $132,496 · 12,550 jobs · top metro: Houston ($133,140)
Nurse Practitioners in Texas earn $132,496 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Houston) pays $133,140 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $131,677 · 11,470 jobs · top metro: Austin ($132,790)
Computer Network Architects in Texas earn $131,677 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Austin) pays $132,790 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 52 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $169,989 | Austin | $173,300 | 53,790 |
| 2 | Financial Manager | Finance | $165,136 | Austin | $168,100 | 48,870 |
| 3 | Marketing Manager | Management | $149,724 | Austin | $162,150 | 32,560 |
| 4 | Lawyer | Legal | $145,398 | Dallas | $157,340 | 40,140 |
| 5 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $138,827 | Austin | $141,500 | 14,240 |
| 6 | Sales Manager | Management | $135,856 | Austin | $141,430 | 53,730 |
| 7 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $134,380 | Austin | $151,570 | 6,140 |
| 8 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $133,627 | Houston | $136,110 | 10,400 |
| 9 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $132,496 | Houston | $133,140 | 12,550 |
| 10 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $131,677 | Austin | $132,790 | 11,470 |
| 11 | Software Developer | Technology | $131,229 | Austin | $133,070 | 112,470 |
| 12 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $127,440 | Dallas | $131,280 | 10,480 |
| 13 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $120,913 | Houston | $131,250 | 6,660 |
| 14 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $117,305 | Austin | $124,150 | 42,970 |
| 15 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $116,572 | Houston | $126,870 | 13,720 |
| 16 | Data Scientist | Technology | $115,122 | Austin | $122,440 | 16,630 |
| 17 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $114,065 | Houston | $119,990 | 34,110 |
| 18 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $112,619 | Dallas | $117,040 | 35,090 |
| 19 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $109,081 | Austin | $117,420 | 11,220 |
| 20 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $108,578 | Houston | $116,170 | 21,930 |
| 21 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $108,504 | Austin | $108,940 | 282,320 |
| 22 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $107,606 | Houston | $111,070 | 10,720 |
| 23 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $102,406 | Dallas | $103,010 | 14,510 |
| 24 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $101,923 | Austin | $112,760 | 1,790 |
| 25 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $100,807 | Austin | $106,430 | 3,730 |
| 26 | Management Analyst | Management | $100,105 | Austin | $102,530 | 34,700 |
| 27 | Network Architect | Technology | $99,431 | Austin | $100,970 | 23,440 |
| 28 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $98,522 | Dallas | $98,750 | 24,590 |
| 29 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $97,899 | Dallas | $98,740 | 156,360 |
| 30 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $96,033 | Houston | $98,310 | 20,540 |
| 31 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $95,976 | Houston | $103,050 | 11,220 |
| 32 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $93,004 | Austin | $102,410 | 11,300 |
| 33 | Web Developer | Technology | $91,618 | Austin | $96,990 | 5,120 |
| 34 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $90,010 | Austin | $95,800 | 12,450 |
| 35 | Architect | Engineering | $88,621 | Austin | $94,850 | 6,050 |
| 36 | Accountant | Finance | $81,934 | Dallas | $82,780 | 74,780 |
| 37 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $79,731 | Austin | $85,880 | 4,110 |
| 38 | Writer/Author | Creative | $72,573 | Austin | $76,060 | 730 |
| 39 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $67,908 | Austin | $79,370 | 42,040 |
| 40 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $67,807 | Dallas | $71,190 | 8,900 |
| 41 | Loan Officer | Finance | $65,117 | Houston | $69,010 | 15,900 |
| 42 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $63,901 | Houston | $64,230 | 63,140 |
| 43 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $63,783 | Dallas | $66,370 | 13,960 |
| 44 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $63,260 | Austin | $64,380 | 16,270 |
| 45 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $62,443 | Dallas | $63,700 | 71,570 |
| 46 | Plumber | Trades | $60,647 | Austin | $62,280 | 27,010 |
| 47 | Paralegal | Legal | $60,384 | Houston | $64,750 | 19,130 |
| 48 | Electrician | Trades | $58,503 | Houston | $59,180 | 44,820 |
| 49 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $56,211 | Dallas | $59,190 | 19,120 |
| 50 | Welder | Trades | $51,937 | Houston | $53,810 | 32,380 |
| 51 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $51,881 | Dallas | $53,290 | 36,470 |
| 52 | Carpenter | Trades | $48,787 | Austin | $49,650 | 22,200 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Texas
Texas's pay distribution is shaped by energy (Houston), tech (Austin), corporate headquarters (Dallas), and a fast-growing services economy across all four major metros. Cost of living near the national average means nominal pay translates well to actual purchasing power — particularly for technical and management roles.
$Texas tracks $3 BLS-published metros covering approximately $1,720,540 workers across the $52 occupations on this page. State-aggregated medians are employment-weighted across metros, which is the right way to read "state pay" when BLS publishes by metro. The Computer and Information Systems Manager top spot reflects Austin pulling the upper end of the distribution; smaller metros in Texas typically pay 10–25% less for the same role.
Metro-by-Metro Detail
For salary data specific to one metro within Texas, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Texas is Computer and Information Systems Manager with a state median salary of $169,989. The top-paying metro for this role is Austin at $173,300 median. The role employs roughly 53,790 workers across Texas.
26 of the 52 BLS-tracked occupations in Texas have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally for high-paying occupations.
Across 52 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Texas is $99,217. The figure is employment-weighted across 3 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $98,235.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For Texas, this page aggregates Austin, Dallas, Houston. Some non-MSA areas (small towns, rural counties) are excluded from OEWS metro tables but covered in BLS state-level summaries; we use metro-level data to preserve the percentile granularity.
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. State aggregates are computed by employment-weighting metro-level percentile wages across the BLS-tracked metros in Texas.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Texas, using OEWS 2024 data.