Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Salary in Houston, TX
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $49,940 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,307 take-home, or $3,526 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median service unit operators, oil and gas salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,813
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,096
- Medicare (1.45%)$724
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$42,307
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,670 | $21.96 | $38,876 | $3,240 |
| 25th percentile | $49,030 | $23.57 | $41,576 | $3,465 |
| Median (50th) | $49,940 | $24.01 | $42,307 | $3,526 |
| 75th percentile | $60,230 | $28.96 | $50,575 | $4,215 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,070 | $38.01 | $64,456 | $5,371 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,940 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 service unit operators, oil and gas's $42,307 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,895 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 5.9× the national concentration of service unit operators, oil and gas jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for service unit operators, oil and gas, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #2 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midland, TX | $49,470 | $41,929 | $43,775 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $49,940 | $42,307 | $42,895 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
About the job: service unit operators, oil and gas
Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.1% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Midland, TX — $49,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a service unit operators, oil and gas make in Houston, TX?
The median service unit operators, oil and gas salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $49,940 a year, or about $24.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,030 and $60,230.
What is a service unit operators, oil and gas’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $49,940 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $42,307 a year ($3,526 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a service unit operators, oil and gas?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $58,160. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,895 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #2 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a service unit operators, oil and gas 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) — 37% of a median service unit operators, oil and gas’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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