Entry-level Chemical Engineer salary in Houston, TX
Based on 49 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Spring, Baytown, Freeport, Lake Jackson, The Woodlands.
Also listed as: Process Engineer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $108,243 |
| 25th | $109,699 |
| 50th (median) | $110,000 |
| 75th | $125,580 |
| 90th | $133,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $104,163 | $99,958 | $119,000 | 38 |
| FY2021 | $103,500 | $95,326 | $114,964 | 17 |
| FY2022 | $97,723 | $95,326 | $108,347 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $110,000 | $108,222 | $119,875 | 19 |
| FY2024 | $115,000 | $101,753 | $126,275 | 26 |
| FY2025 | $110,120 | $109,699 | $125,582 | 34 |
| FY2026 | $109,000 | $108,243 | $124,605 | 15 |
Cost of living
Houston's median entry-level Chemical Engineer salary of $110,000 is worth about $111,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemical Engineers in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $138,120 in May 2025 (1,510 employed). The H-1B median here is $110,000, 20% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Smith & Burgess | too few | 6 |
| Schlumberger Technology | too few | 4 |
| Shell International Exploration and Production | too few | 4 |
| SOAP Engineering | too few | 3 |
| Datacor | too few | 2 |
| Technip Energies | too few | 2 |
| The Dow Chemical Company | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $110,000 | 49 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $141,304 | 50 |
| Senior · Level III | $168,436 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $195,832 | 17 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $109,699 | $110,000 | 49 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $138,403 | $141,304 | 50 |
| Senior · Level III | $167,128 | $168,436 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $182,187 | $195,832 | 17 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.