Entry-level Cost Estimator salary in Houston, TX

Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Baytown, The Woodlands, Spring, Humble, Conroe.

Also listed as: Cost Manager

Median salary$60,000
Middle 50%$52k–$65k
vs. all levels here−31%comparison median $87,000
Filings13FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $48,894 and $90,225.
PercentileSalary
10th$49,184
25th$52,000
50th (median)$60,000
75th$65,000
90th$69,000

Cost of living

Houston's median entry-level Cost Estimator salary of $60,000 is worth about $60,800 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).

Compared with all workers here

All Cost Estimators in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $78,200 in May 2025 (5,660 employed). The H-1B median here is $60,000, 23% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
Graniti Vicentiatoo few3
Rigid Global Buildingstoo few2
Shipco Transporttoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $60,000 13
Mid-level · Level II $72,000 19
Senior · Level III $90,000 21
Expert · Level IV $123,689 22

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$48,734$60,00013
Mid-level · Level II$62,899$72,00019
Senior · Level III$79,706$90,00021
Expert · Level IV$94,765$123,68922

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.