Expert Chemical Engineer salary in Houston, TX
Based on 17 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $182,187 |
| 25th | $189,447 |
| 50th (median) | $195,832 |
| 75th | $206,987 |
| 90th | $225,355 |
Cost of living
Houston's median expert Chemical Engineer salary of $195,832 is worth about $198,600 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 $195,832, 42% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company | too few | 3 |
| Technip Energies | too few | 3 |
| Chemicals Incorporated | 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.