Career Atlas USA

Careers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Part of Texas.

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX’s regional price level is below the national average (index 98.629, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).

Unemployment rate: 5.2% · 3,716,242 people employed (2026-06, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).

Highest-Paying Careers

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  1. 1Dentists, All Other Specialists$389,520
  2. 2Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$320,450
  3. 3Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$307,690
  4. 4Physicians, All Other$292,490
  5. 5Physicians, Pathologists$291,510

Largest Occupations

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  1. 1Fast Food and Counter Workers105,810 employed
  2. 2General and Operations Managers97,320 employed
  3. 3Retail Salespersons78,960 employed
  4. 4Stockers and Order Fillers72,970 employed
  5. 5Registered Nurses65,910 employed

Highest Concentration

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  1. 1Petroleum Engineers12.50× national avg
  2. 2Wellhead Pumpers10.15× national avg
  3. 3Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas7.88× national avg
  4. 4Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers7.85× national avg
  5. 5Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas6.97× national avg

Best Purchasing Power

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cost-of-living adjusted

  1. 1Dentists, All Other Specialists$394,935
  2. 2Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$324,904
  3. 3Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$311,967
  4. 4Physicians, All Other$296,556
  5. 5Physicians, Pathologists$295,562

Sources

Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score isn’t available at the metro level yet — see Texas state page.