Complete jobs in houston guide. City of houston jobs, amazon houston, hisd careers, houston methodist, nasa, energy jobs. Salary data, no state tax. How to apply. Free.
Last updated: April 2026. This guide covers jobs in houston across city government, energy, healthcare, education, logistics, and the private sector. It focuses on Houston proper and the greater Houston metro area.
city of houston jobs are searched by 40,500 people every month. jobs in houston gets 18,100 more. amazon jobs houston gets 12,100. hisd jobs houston gets 22,200.
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and the economic engine of Texas. The Houston metro area is home to 7.3 million people and a GDP exceeding $500 billion, powered by the world’s largest concentration of energy companies, the Texas Medical Center (the largest medical complex on Earth), NASA’s Johnson Space Center, one of the busiest ports in the US, and a rapidly growing tech and manufacturing sector.
But here’s what people outside Texas often miss about Houston: it has no state income tax. Zero. A $75,000 salary in Houston takes home roughly the same as $90,000 in California or New York after state taxes. Combine that with a cost of living 30–40% lower than NYC or San Francisco, and Houston becomes one of the most financially advantageous job markets in the country.
This guide covers every major Houston job category, including city government, energy, healthcare, education, logistics, tech, and service, with exact salaries and how to apply.
city of houston jobs: the municipal employer
why city of houston careers matter
city of houston jobs and city of houston careers are both searched 40,500 times monthly with KD of just 2. The City of Houston employs over 22,000 people across 20+ departments.
city of houston job openings span police, fire, public works, parks, aviation (managing George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports), health, housing, and administration.
city of houston careers positions and pay
Houston Police Department (HPD) Starting salary: $52,000–$58,000/year After 4 years: $75,000+/year With overtime and off-duty: $85,000–$120,000+/year HPD is one of the largest police departments in the US with 5,000+ officers.
Houston Fire Department (HFD) Firefighter starting: $42,000–$50,000/year After 5 years: $70,000+/year With overtime: $80,000–$100,000+/year Paramedic certification increases base pay.
Public Works Engineers: $65,000–$110,000/year Inspectors: $45,000–$70,000/year Heavy equipment operators: $18–$28/hour Laborers: $15–$22/hour
Houston Parks and Recreation Park maintenance: $15–$22/hour Recreation coordinators: $35,000–$55,000/year Lifeguards (seasonal): $14–$18/hour
Houston Airport System (HAS) Operations, security, maintenance, and management at IAH and Hobby airports. Airport operations officer: $18–$25/hour Maintenance technician: $20–$30/hour Airport management: $55,000–$100,000/year
Administration (all departments) Clerks and assistants: $32,000–$48,000/year Analysts: $45,000–$75,000/year Managers: $65,000–$100,000/year
city of houston careers benefits
- Pension (Houston Municipal Employees Pension System)
- Health, dental, vision insurance
- Paid vacation (10–20 days based on tenure)
- Sick leave
- 11 paid holidays
- Deferred compensation plan (457b)
- No state income tax (Texas)
how to apply for city of houston jobs
Visit governmentjobs.com/careers/houston, this is the official city of houston job openings portal. Create a profile, search by department or keyword, and apply online.
city of houston job opportunities update weekly. Some positions (police, fire) have specific exam and application windows, check the HPD and HFD websites directly for those.
hisd jobs houston: the school district
HISD overview
hisd jobs houston is searched by 22,200 people monthly (KD 6). Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the largest school district in Texas and the 8th largest in the US, serving 194,000+ students across 270+ schools.
HISD employs approximately 27,000 people.
hisd jobs houston positions and pay
Teacher: $60,000–$85,000/year (based on experience and degree) Houston-area teacher salaries are among the highest in the South, partly due to Houston’s cost of living and competition between surrounding districts (Katy ISD, Cy-Fair ISD, Fort Bend ISD).
Teaching Assistant / Paraprofessional: $22,000–$32,000/year
School Secretary/Clerk: $28,000–$40,000/year
Counselor: $60,000–$85,000/year
Principal: $95,000–$140,000/year
Central Office: IT, finance, HR, facilities, and curriculum development. $40,000–$120,000/year depending on position and seniority.
Custodial/Maintenance: $14–$20/hour
School Nutrition (Cafeteria): $12–$16/hour, part-time positions with school-hour schedules
how to apply for hisd jobs
Visit houstonisd.org/careers. HISD uses an online application system. Teaching positions require Texas teaching certification. Support staff positions often don’t require a degree.
HISD hiring peaks in March–August for the following school year. Substitute teacher positions are available year-round with lower certification requirements.
energy jobs in houston: the oil capital of the world
Houston’s energy industry
Houston is the undisputed energy capital of the world. The Houston area is home to:
- ExxonMobil, headquarters in Spring, TX (Houston suburb). The largest publicly traded oil company.
- Chevron, downstream and chemical headquarters in Houston
- ConocoPhillips, headquarters in Houston
- Phillips 66, headquarters in Houston
- Halliburton, headquarters in Houston (oilfield services)
- Schlumberger (SLB), major Houston presence (oilfield services)
- Baker Hughes, headquarters in Houston (oilfield technology)
- Kinder Morgan, headquarters in Houston (pipelines/midstream)
- Enterprise Products, headquarters in Houston (midstream)
- Cheniere Energy, headquarters in Houston (LNG)
Plus hundreds of smaller oil companies, gas companies, pipeline operators, refiners, and energy services firms.
energy job salaries in houston
Petroleum Engineer: $90,000–$180,000/year Design and oversee extraction of oil and natural gas. One of the highest-paying engineering disciplines.
Chemical Engineer (Refineries/Petrochemicals): $80,000–$150,000/year Process design, optimization, and safety at refineries and chemical plants along the Houston Ship Channel.
Geologist/Geophysicist: $75,000–$150,000/year Subsurface analysis for exploration and production.
Drilling Engineer: $85,000–$170,000/year Plan and manage drilling operations.
Landman: $70,000–$130,000/year Negotiate mineral rights and land leases. Unique to the oil & gas industry.
Pipeline Engineer: $80,000–$140,000/year Design and maintain oil and gas pipeline systems.
Refinery Operator: $28–$45/hour ($58,000–$94,000/year) Operate refinery equipment along the Houston Ship Channel. Requires process technology certification or equivalent. Shift work.
HSE (Health, Safety, Environment): $65,000–$120,000/year Safety professionals are essential in energy, refineries and drilling operations are inherently hazardous.
Energy Trader: $90,000–$300,000+/year Trade crude oil, natural gas, and power on commodity markets. Houston’s energy trading community is massive.
Administrative/Support (Energy companies): $40,000–$75,000/year Finance, HR, legal, IT, and marketing at energy company headquarters.
Let me be direct about this: if you have an engineering degree, Houston is probably the highest-paying city in America for your skills. A chemical engineer making $120,000 in Houston (no state income tax + low cost of living) has more disposable income than the same engineer making $160,000 in San Francisco. The math is clear.
healthcare jobs in houston: the texas medical center
the largest medical complex on earth
The Texas Medical Center (TMC) in Houston is the largest medical complex in the world, 60+ institutions on a single campus:
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, #1 cancer hospital in the world
- houston methodist, consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the US
- Memorial Hermann, largest not-for-profit health system in Southeast Texas
- Baylor College of Medicine, top medical school and research institution
- Texas Children’s Hospital, largest children’s hospital in the US
- UT Health Houston, academic medical center
- St. Luke’s Health, part of CommonSpirit Health
The TMC employs over 106,000 people. Combined with other Houston-area healthcare facilities, healthcare is the city’s largest employment sector. That’s not an exaggeration.
houston methodist employment
houston methodist employment is searched by 1,000 people monthly with KD of 0, zero competition.
Houston Methodist operates 8 hospitals across the Houston area and is consistently ranked as the #1 hospital in Texas by U.S. News & World Report.
Registered Nurse (Houston Methodist): $70,000–$105,000/year Certified Nursing Assistant: $32,000–$42,000/year Medical Technologist: $55,000–$80,000/year Physician: $200,000–$500,000+/year Administrative Staff: $38,000–$70,000/year IT/Technology: $60,000–$110,000/year
Apply at houstonmethodist.org/careers.
other major houston healthcare employers
MD Anderson Cancer Center Research, clinical, and administrative positions. RNs: $75,000–$110,000/year. Research scientists: $60,000–$120,000/year. MD Anderson attracts talent from around the world. Apply at mdanderson.org/careers.
Memorial Hermann Houston’s largest not-for-profit health system with 17 hospitals. RNs: $65,000–$100,000/year. Entry-level: $15–$20/hour. Apply at memorialhermann.org/careers.
Texas Children’s Hospital Pediatric nurses, child life specialists, physicians, and administrative staff. RNs: $65,000–$100,000/year. Apply at texaschildrens.org/careers.
uthealth houston careers UT Health Houston (The University of Texas Health Science Center), academic medical positions, research, nursing, and administration. uthealth houston careers (1,000/month, KD 4). Apply at uth.edu/careers.
For comprehensive healthcare career guidance, see our healthcare & nursing jobs guide.
university of houston careers
university of houston careers and university of houston job openings are searched by 2,900 people monthly with KD of just 1.
UH is the largest university in Houston with 47,000+ students. houston university jobs include:
Academic positions: Professors ($70,000–$200,000+), lecturers ($50,000–$80,000), researchers
Administrative staff: Admissions, advising, financial aid, registrar. $35,000–$70,000/year
IT/Technology: $55,000–$100,000/year
Facilities: Maintenance, custodial, grounds. $30,000–$50,000/year
Research staff: Lab technicians, research coordinators. $35,000–$75,000/year
Benefits include state retirement system (TRS), health insurance, tuition assistance for employees and dependents, and generous leave.
Apply at uh.edu/human-resources/careers.
amazon jobs houston
amazon jobs houston and amazon hiring houston are searched by 12,100 people monthly (KD 3).
Amazon has a massive Houston footprint:
Fulfillment/Warehouse: Multiple facilities across Houston metro (Katy, Humble, Missouri City, Pasadena). amazon warehouse jobs houston pay $17–$24/hour + benefits from day one.
Delivery stations: Throughout Houston. Delivery drivers through DSPs: $18–$25/hour.
Amazon Fresh / Whole Foods: Multiple Houston locations. $15–$20/hour.
Corporate/AWS: Some corporate and cloud sales positions based in Houston. $80,000–$200,000+.
Apply at amazon.jobs → filter for Houston, TX. Full Amazon breakdown: amazon jobs complete guide.
houston zoo jobs
houston zoo jobs and houston zoo careers are searched by 2,400 people monthly (KD 3). The Houston Zoo is one of the most-visited zoos in the US with 2.5+ million annual visitors.
Positions include:
- Zookeeper: $32,000–$50,000/year
- Veterinary technician: $35,000–$55,000/year
- Guest services: $14–$18/hour
- Education/Outreach: $35,000–$55,000/year
- Grounds maintenance: $15–$20/hour
- Marketing and development: $45,000–$80,000/year
- Conservation scientist: $50,000–$90,000/year
houston zoo hiring is seasonal, summer positions (May–August) open in March. Year-round positions are posted at houstonzoo.org/careers.
houston metro careers (METRO transit)
houston metro careers is searched by 1,300 people monthly (KD 1). Houston METRO operates 1,200+ buses and 3 light rail lines serving the Greater Houston area.
Bus Operator: $17–$28/hour ($35,000–$58,000/year) CDL with passenger endorsement required, METRO provides training.
Rail Operator: $20–$30/hour
Mechanic: $22–$35/hour ($46,000–$73,000/year)
Administrative: $40,000–$85,000/year
Benefits include pension, health insurance, and free transit. Apply at ridemetro.org/careers.
houston texans jobs
houston texans jobs is searched by 1,300 people monthly (KD 1). NFL team jobs include:
Game day staff: $12–$18/hour (seasonal/event-based) Marketing and sales: $40,000–$90,000/year Operations: $35,000–$75,000/year Corporate partnerships: $50,000–$120,000/year Facility management (NRG Stadium): $35,000–$65,000/year
Apply at houstontexans.com/careers. Most NFL team jobs are competitive and filled through networking.
houston rodeo jobs
houston rodeo jobs and houston livestock show and rodeo jobs are searched by 1,000 people monthly (KD 3). The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the world’s largest livestock exhibition and rodeo, attracting 2.5 million visitors over 20 days each March.
Seasonal positions include: Event staff, ticket sales, hospitality, grounds crew, animal handling, and volunteer coordination. Most are temporary (February–March).
Year-round positions include marketing, sponsorship sales, operations, and administration at rodeohouston.com/careers.
ups jobs houston
ups jobs houston and ups careers houston are searched by 1,900 people monthly (KD 5).
UPS operates major sorting facilities and delivery routes across Houston. Package handler: $16–$22/hour + $25,000 tuition reimbursement. UPS driver in Houston: $30–$44/hour.
Full UPS details: warehouse & blue collar guide.
tech jobs in houston
Houston’s tech scene is growing rapidly, fueled by energy tech, healthcare tech, and general software development:
Major tech employers in Houston:
- HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprise), headquarters in Spring, TX
- Oracle, major Houston office
- Microsoft, growing Houston presence
- Amazon AWS, cloud sales and solutions
- CenterPoint Energy, utility with large IT team
- Energy industry IT, every oil company has massive technology teams
Tech salaries in Houston:
- Software Engineer: $85,000–$160,000/year
- Data Scientist: $90,000–$150,000/year
- Cloud Engineer: $90,000–$155,000/year
- IT Manager: $85,000–$130,000/year
- Cybersecurity Analyst: $70,000–$120,000/year
Remember: no state income tax. A Houston software engineer at $130,000 takes home more than a San Francisco engineer at $170,000. That’s a fact worth remembering when you’re comparing offers.
nasa jobs houston
Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston is NASA’s hub for human spaceflight. “Houston, we have a problem,” that Houston.
NASA JSC employs thousands directly and supports tens of thousands of contractor jobs:
NASA civil servant positions: $55,000–$180,000/year (GS scale + Houston locality pay) Engineers, scientists, mission controllers, IT specialists, project managers, and administrative staff.
NASA contractor positions (major contractors): Jacobs, KBR, Leidos, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Axiom Space, SpaceX Engineers: $75,000–$150,000/year Mission support: $50,000–$90,000/year
Apply for NASA positions at nasa.gov/careers (federal positions) or through contractor company websites. Also see our usa jobs & government careers guide.
port of houston jobs
The Port of Houston is one of the busiest ports in the US, #1 in foreign waterborne tonnage. Thousands of jobs in shipping, logistics, customs, and warehousing.
Longshoreman (ILA union): $25–$45/hour ($52,000–$94,000/year) Crane Operator: $30–$50/hour Warehouse Worker: $16–$24/hour Customs Broker: $45,000–$80,000/year Logistics Coordinator: $45,000–$75,000/year Port Authority Staff: $40,000–$100,000/year
cost of living in houston
Houston’s biggest financial advantage, besides no state income tax, is housing:
Average rent (2026):
- Inner Loop 1-bedroom: $1,400–$2,200/month
- Midtown/Montrose: $1,500–$2,400/month
- The Heights: $1,400–$2,200/month
- Katy/Sugar Land (suburbs): $1,200–$1,800/month
- Humble/Kingwood: $1,100–$1,600/month
For comparison:
- NYC 1-bedroom: $3,800–$5,500 (170% more)
- San Francisco: $3,000–$4,500 (130% more)
- Chicago: $1,600–$2,500 (15–30% more)
Use zipscore.trendnovaworld.org for detailed Houston cost-of-living comparisons.
where to find all houston jobs
Dev Global Jobs aggregates 881,000+ verified job listings across 190+ countries, including thousands of Houston-area positions. Updated every 30 minutes. 100% free. No login required.
Part of the Trend Nova World ecosystem:
salary.trendnovaworld.org — Houston salary benchmarking
zipscore.trendnovaworld.org — Houston neighborhood cost-of-living data
CareerNest.cloud — career development resources
WorldCareersHub.com — global career insights
voice search Q&A
What are the best jobs in Houston? Energy industry engineering pays $90,000 to $180,000. Texas Medical Center healthcare positions pay $65,000 to $500,000+. NASA contractor jobs pay $75,000 to $150,000. City of houston jobs offer pension and stability starting at $32,000 to $110,000.
How do I apply for city of houston jobs? Visit governmentjobs.com/careers/houston, create a profile, and apply online. Some positions like police and fire require specific exams and application windows. Most positions require Houston residency.
Does Texas have state income tax? No. Texas has zero state income tax. A $75,000 Houston salary takes home roughly the same as $90,000 in California or New York after state taxes.
How much do Houston nurses make? Houston RNs earn $65,000 to $110,000 per year depending on facility and specialty. Houston Methodist, MD Anderson, and Memorial Hermann are the top healthcare employers.
What are amazon jobs in Houston? Amazon warehouse jobs in Houston pay $17 to $24 per hour with benefits from day one. Multiple facilities across Katy, Humble, Missouri City, and Pasadena. Corporate and AWS roles pay $80,000 to $200,000+.
frequently asked questions
what are city of houston jobs?
city of houston jobs span 20+ departments including police, fire, public works, parks, and aviation managing two major airports. Pay ranges from $32,000 for entry-level to $110,000+ for senior positions. Benefits include pension, health insurance, and no state income tax. Apply at governmentjobs.com/careers/houston.
how do I find hisd jobs in houston?
Visit houstonisd.org/careers. HISD is the largest school district in Texas with 270+ schools. Teachers earn $60,000–$85,000/year. Support staff positions often don’t require a degree. Heaviest hiring March–August.
what are the highest paying jobs in houston?
Petroleum engineers at $90K–$180K, energy traders at $90K–$300K+, specialist physicians at $200K–$500K+, NASA engineers at $75K–$150K, and investment professionals at $100K–$250K are among the highest paying Houston positions. All benefit from zero state income tax.
are there amazon jobs in houston?
Yes. amazon jobs houston include warehouse positions at $17–$24/hour across multiple facilities, delivery driver roles at $18–$25/hour, and corporate positions. Apply at amazon.jobs filtering for Houston.
what is houston methodist employment like?
houston methodist is ranked #1 hospital in Texas. RNs earn $70,000–$105,000/year. Physicians $200,000–$500,000+. Administrative staff $38,000–$70,000. Apply at houstonmethodist.org/careers.
does houston have nasa jobs?
Yes. NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston employs thousands directly and supports tens of thousands of contractor positions. NASA civil servant salaries: $55,000–$180,000. Contractor engineering: $75,000–$150,000. Apply at nasa.gov/careers.
why is houston good for jobs?
No state income tax, 30–40% lower cost of living than NYC/SF, diverse economy spanning energy, healthcare, tech, logistics, and government. A $100,000 Houston salary has more purchasing power than $140,000 in San Francisco.
where can I find all houston jobs?
Dev Global Jobs has 881,000+ verified listings across 190+ countries including thousands of Houston positions. Free, no login required, updated every 30 minutes.
related guides on this site
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- amazon jobs complete guide
- microsoft careers guide
- walmart careers guide
- usa jobs & government careers guide
- healthcare & nursing jobs guide
- warehouse, ups & blue collar jobs guide
Trend Nova World ecosystem: devglobaljobs.com · salary.trendnovaworld.org · zipscore.trendnovaworld.org · careernest.cloud · worldcareershub.com
