Economist salary in Houston, TX
Based on 26 certified H-1B filings in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Prairie View.
Also listed as: Research Economist, Associate Economist
Median salary$112,951
Middle 50%$93.3k–$150.8k
vs. national median−19%comparison median $140,000
Filings26FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$50k$75k$100k$125k$150k$175k$200k$225k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $81,598 |
| 25th | $93,333 |
| 50th (median) | $112,951 |
| 75th | $150,843 |
| 90th | $175,110 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $100,000 | $87,859 | $143,900 | 10 |
| FY2021 | $75,000 | $70,000 | $94,500 | 13 |
| FY2022 | $122,004 | $86,258 | $141,497 | 13 |
| FY2023 | $131,500 | $88,948 | $151,780 | 16 |
| FY2024 | $145,000 | $123,750 | $182,000 | 10 |
| FY2025 | $95,000 | $83,600 | $113,000 | 17 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Cost of living
Houston's median Economist salary of $112,951 is worth about $114,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| W.m. Rice University | too few | 3 |
| Alterna Securities | too few | 2 |
| Compass Lexecon | too few | 2 |
| Conocophillips Company | too few | 2 |
| Prairie View A&M University | 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 | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $110,000 | 11 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $79,560 | $110,000 | 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.