Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Houston, TX
Based on 56 certified H-1B filings in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Sugar Land, Brookshire, Freeport, Conroe, Deer Park.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $79,000 |
| 25th | $110,914 |
| 50th (median) | $135,854 |
| 75th | $184,741 |
| 90th | $260,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $122,508 | $110,000 | $130,000 | 26 |
| FY2021 | $114,096 | $110,323 | $154,150 | 16 |
| FY2022 | $115,006 | $108,563 | $139,250 | 34 |
| FY2023 | $155,000 | $140,501 | $186,325 | 15 |
| FY2024 | $151,040 | $123,618 | $201,200 | 20 |
| FY2025 | $115,793 | $92,070 | $169,375 | 30 |
| FY2026 | $142,500 | $120,120 | $240,166 | 26 |
Cost of living
Houston's median Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $135,854 is worth about $137,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer and Information Research Scientists in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $134,050 in May 2025 (380 employed). The H-1B median here is $135,854, 1% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bot Auto Ca | too few | 9 |
| W.m. Rice University | too few | 5 |
| University of Houston | too few | 3 |
| Meta | too few | 2 |
| BP America | too few | 2 |
| LNRS Data Services | too few | 2 |
| Tempus AI | too few | 2 |
| The Dow Chemical Company | 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 | $80,036 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $115,793 | 18 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | $250,000 | 15 |
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 | $62,962 | $80,036 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $115,586 | $115,793 | 18 |
| Expert · Level IV | $131,248 | $250,000 | 15 |
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.