Expert Petroleum Engineer salary in Houston, TX
Based on 23 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Spring, The Woodlands, Katy, Springs, Alvin.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $193,253 |
| 25th | $197,365 |
| 50th (median) | $213,200 |
| 75th | $239,173 |
| 90th | $263,120 |
Cost of living
Houston's median expert Petroleum Engineer salary of $213,200 is worth about $216,200 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 $213,200, 26% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Occidental Petroleum | too few | 4 |
| Conocophillips Company | too few | 3 |
| ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company | too few | 3 |
| Chevron | too few | 2 |
| Murphy Exploration & Production Company | too few | 2 |
| Woodside Energy USA Services | too few | 2 |
| XTO Energy | 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.