Expert Chemist salary in Houston, TX
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Freeport, Stafford, Lake Jackson.
Also listed as: Quality Control Chemist, Analytical Chemist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $135,000 |
| 25th | $138,796 |
| 50th (median) | $142,470 |
| 75th | $165,000 |
| 90th | $165,000 |
Cost of living
Houston's median expert Chemist salary of $142,470 is worth about $144,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Chemists in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $106,740 in May 2025 (2,430 employed). The H-1B median here is $142,470, 33% 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 | 2 |
| Lonza Houston | 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 | $66,679 | 26 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $96,075 | 30 |
| Senior · Level III | $117,083 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $142,470 | 11 |
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 | $63,357 | $66,679 | 26 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $87,110 | $96,075 | 30 |
| Senior · Level III | $110,864 | $117,083 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | $138,882 | $142,470 | 11 |
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.