Chemical Engineer Salary in Houston, TX
Chemical Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $138,120 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $105,671 take-home, or $8,806 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemical engineer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,883
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,563
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,003
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$105,671
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Chemical Engineer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,890 | $48.02 | $79,103 | $6,592 |
| 25th percentile | $126,290 | $60.72 | $97,585 | $8,132 |
| Median (50th) | $138,120 | $66.40 | $105,671 | $8,806 |
| 75th percentile | $178,720 | $85.92 | $133,421 | $11,118 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $217,260 | $104.45 | $161,639 | $13,470 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $138,120 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemical engineer's $105,671 take-home pay has the buying power of $107,140 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 3.4× the national concentration of chemical engineer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for chemical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #1 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $138,120 | $105,671 | $107,140 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $127,770 | $94,674 | $92,316 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $132,820 | $93,727 | $86,080 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $126,830 | $91,512 | $81,298 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $109,460 | $80,582 | $74,430 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical engineer make in Houston, TX?
The median chemical engineer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $138,120 a year, or about $66.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $126,290 and $178,720.
What is a chemical engineer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $138,120 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $105,671 a year ($8,806 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a chemical engineer?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $125,040. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $107,140 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #1 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemical engineer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 15% of a median chemical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Petroleum Engineer — $169,870
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $137,740
- Aerospace Engineer — $133,970
- Electrical Engineer — $131,070
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors — $130,280
- Engineers, All Other — $130,270
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $129,630
- Environmental Engineer — $127,340
- Mechanical Engineer — $125,350
- Materials Engineer — $123,250
- Industrial Engineer — $111,690
- Landscape Architect — $103,670