Entry-level Engineering Director salary in Houston, TX
Based on 35 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes The Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Stafford, Richmond.
Also listed as: Architectural and Engineering Manager, Manager Hardware Engineering
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $115,851 |
| 25th | $124,037 |
| 50th (median) | $137,615 |
| 75th | $155,357 |
| 90th | $180,198 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $123,377 | $112,481 | $132,060 | 16 |
| FY2021 | $124,600 | $116,510 | $140,595 | 27 |
| FY2022 | $124,176 | $121,763 | $143,325 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $135,557 | $120,000 | $141,750 | 17 |
| FY2024 | $125,000 | $115,564 | $139,107 | 16 |
| FY2025 | $135,750 | $120,200 | $151,100 | 21 |
| FY2026 | $144,000 | $126,656 | $174,694 | 14 |
Cost of living
Houston's median entry-level Engineering Director salary of $137,615 is worth about $139,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Architectural and Engineering Managers in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $172,020 in May 2025 (5,330 employed). The H-1B median here is $137,615, 20% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| SEL Engineering Services | too few | 3 |
| Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control | too few | 2 |
| Entergy Services | too few | 2 |
| Foxconn Assembly | too few | 2 |
| Occidental Petroleum | too few | 2 |
| Sulzer EMS | 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 | $137,615 | 35 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $166,730 | 34 |
| Senior · Level III | $200,000 | 13 |
| Expert · Level IV | $235,000 | 29 |
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 | $115,752 | $137,615 | 35 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $149,947 | $166,730 | 34 |
| Senior · Level III | $190,237 | $200,000 | 13 |
| Expert · Level IV | $223,829 | $235,000 | 29 |
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.