Petroleum Engineer salary in Houston, TX
Based on 106 certified H-1B filings in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Spring, The Woodlands, Katy, Springs, Alvin.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $98,286 |
| 25th | $118,125 |
| 50th (median) | $146,800 |
| 75th | $186,747 |
| 90th | $217,998 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $135,117 | $106,288 | $150,000 | 95 |
| FY2021 | $135,710 | $114,500 | $164,875 | 66 |
| FY2022 | $142,418 | $125,000 | $162,400 | 57 |
| FY2023 | $135,000 | $118,163 | $164,200 | 47 |
| FY2024 | $138,100 | $104,402 | $175,956 | 44 |
| FY2025 | $137,450 | $107,750 | $172,281 | 54 |
| FY2026 | $157,850 | $135,800 | $193,912 | 52 |
Cost of living
Houston's median Petroleum Engineer salary of $146,800 is worth about $148,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Petroleum Engineers in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $169,870 in May 2025 (4,770 employed). The H-1B median here is $146,800, 14% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Chevron | $163,176 | 13 |
| Occidental Petroleum | $140,800 | 10 |
| ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company | too few | 7 |
| BP America | too few | 6 |
| Woodside Energy USA Services | too few | 4 |
| Conocophillips Company | too few | 3 |
| Quest Global Services- | too few | 3 |
| Shell Exploration & Production Company | too few | 3 |
| XTO Energy | too few | 3 |
| Bandera Operating | 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 | $103,022 | 30 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $144,900 | 36 |
| Senior · Level III | $180,400 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $213,200 | 23 |
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 | $98,072 | $103,022 | 30 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $133,099 | $144,900 | 36 |
| Senior · Level III | $163,176 | $180,400 | 11 |
| Expert · Level IV | $193,253 | $213,200 | 23 |
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.