Entry-level Petroleum Engineer salary in Houston, TX
Based on 30 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Spring, The Woodlands, Katy, Springs, Alvin.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $98,072 |
| 25th | $98,179 |
| 50th (median) | $103,022 |
| 75th | $113,810 |
| 90th | $138,390 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $106,288 | $94,993 | $125,000 | 38 |
| FY2021 | $119,169 | $106,341 | $128,975 | 26 |
| FY2022 | $110,000 | $106,579 | $126,000 | 20 |
| FY2023 | $116,550 | $109,000 | $130,000 | 20 |
| FY2024 | $102,606 | $102,606 | $110,000 | 17 |
| FY2025 | $100,001 | $98,072 | $110,120 | 19 |
| FY2026 | $103,022 | $103,022 | $127,750 | 11 |
Cost of living
Houston's median entry-level Petroleum Engineer salary of $103,022 is worth about $104,500 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 $103,022, 39% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| BP America | too few | 4 |
| Occidental Petroleum | too few | 3 |
| Quest Global Services- | too few | 3 |
| Computer Modelling Group | too few | 2 |
| NexTier Completion Solutions | too few | 2 |
| NSI Technologies | too few | 2 |
| Tachyus | 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.