Chemical Engineers pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $99,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $217,260 or more. The middle half of chemical engineers in Houston earn between $126,290 and $178,720.
- $100K10th
- $126K25th
- $138KMedian
- $179K75th
- $217K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $155,750 | $12,979 | $74.88 |
| Median | $138,120 | $11,510 | $66.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $126,290 | $10,524 | $60.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $178,720 | $14,893 | $85.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Engineers pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Chemical engineers in Houston earn 8% more than the Texas average ($144,350) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($129,980). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $125,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $155,750 | $138,120 | $99,890 | $217,260 | 1,510 |
| Texas | $144,350 | $132,750 | $86,920 | $210,460 | 2,610 |
| United States | $129,980 | $125,040 | $79,420 | $182,880 | 21,070 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Engineers salary after taxes in Houston
On the average salary of $155,750, a single filer in Houston takes home about $117,721 a year, or $9,810 a month and $4,528 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for chemical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $155,750 buys what about $157,915 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Engineers salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 1st of 5 Texas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Houston$155,750
- Austin$149,140
- Dallas$147,410
- Beaumont$139,830
- Corpus Christi$132,960
Highest-paying cities for chemical engineers
Houston, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($155,750).
- Houston, TX$155,750
- Austin, TX$149,140
- Dallas, TX$147,410
- Lake Charles, LA$144,900
- Trenton, NJ$144,720
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Chemical Engineers salary in Houston: questions
How much do chemical engineers make an hour in Houston?
$74.88 an hour on average, and $66.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical engineers salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $99,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $126,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical engineers take-home pay in Houston?
About $117,721 a year ($9,810 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $155,750. Texas has no state income tax.
Do chemical engineers earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% more than the U.S. average for this job ($129,980).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2041; area Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.40, this job is 3.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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