Entry-level Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Houston, TX
Based on 92 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Spring, Katy, Richmond, Cypress, The Woodlands.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $55,345 |
| 25th | $60,000 |
| 50th (median) | $67,040 |
| 75th | $80,800 |
| 90th | $100,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $63,174 | $60,000 | $70,375 | 44 |
| FY2021 | $65,000 | $53,000 | $75,000 | 41 |
| FY2022 | $60,000 | $52,146 | $67,513 | 39 |
| FY2023 | $65,000 | $61,000 | $84,200 | 23 |
| FY2024 | $62,500 | $52,577 | $70,000 | 48 |
| FY2025 | $66,000 | $60,000 | $75,000 | 56 |
| FY2026 | $73,500 | $58,750 | $92,700 | 36 |
Cost of living
Houston's median entry-level Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $67,040 is worth about $68,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $105,440 in May 2025 (11,460 employed). The H-1B median here is $67,040, 36% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company | $82,200 | 10 |
| Sai Business Solutions | too few | 7 |
| Mphasis | too few | 5 |
| PCE Paragon Solutions | too few | 4 |
| Amiseq | too few | 2 |
| Blue Space Technologies | too few | 2 |
| Cloud Network Technology | too few | 2 |
| Markit North America | too few | 2 |
| Microsoft | too few | 2 |
| Prescriptive Data Solutions | 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 | $67,040 | 92 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,634 | 788 |
| Senior · Level III | $112,819 | 448 |
| Expert · Level IV | $141,960 | 376 |
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 | $58,448 | $67,040 | 92 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $85,634 | $85,634 | 788 |
| Senior · Level III | $108,243 | $112,819 | 448 |
| Expert · Level IV | $135,512 | $141,960 | 376 |
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.