Expert Data Engineer salary in Houston, TX
Based on 47 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Katy, Spring, Richmond, Sugar Land, Fulshear.
Also listed as: Database Architect, Data Architect
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $152,485 |
| 25th | $152,493 |
| 50th (median) | $159,245 |
| 75th | $171,159 |
| 90th | $196,287 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2022 | $130,000 | $125,000 | $140,000 | 17 |
| FY2023 | $135,000 | $133,125 | $181,620 | 11 |
| FY2024 | $165,500 | $153,005 | $170,800 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $159,245 | $153,743 | $162,808 | 19 |
| FY2026 | $158,300 | $152,496 | $176,599 | 28 |
Cost of living
Houston's median expert Data Engineer salary of $159,245 is worth about $161,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Database Architects in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $139,100 in May 2025 (780 employed). The H-1B median here is $159,245, 14% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Deloitte | too few | 6 |
| Academy | too few | 4 |
| EOG Resources | too few | 4 |
| Zeus Solutions | too few | 3 |
| Conocophillips Company | too few | 2 |
| Highmark Health | too few | 2 |
| Hp | 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 | $94,100 | 16 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $115,700 | 82 |
| Senior · Level III | $136,386 | 47 |
| Expert · Level IV | $159,245 | 47 |
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 | $90,688 | $94,100 | 16 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $102,294 | $115,700 | 82 |
| Senior · Level III | $127,379 | $136,386 | 47 |
| Expert · Level IV | $152,485 | $159,245 | 47 |
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.