Highest-paying management jobs for people in Houston

Managers are the glue holding companies and organizations together. At the executive level, managers are responsible for overall strategy and improving the bottom line. At lower levels, managers make decisions, build relationships, help customers, and lead teams to complete projects.

Effective managers need a wide array of skills. They must be versatile enough to adapt to new initiatives, market changes, and technology. Good communication is also essential to work with customers and team members, and leadership and project management skills drive better results for the organization.

People drawn to this role often enjoy setting goals and working with others to achieve them. Many get satisfaction from mentoring others and helping them grow to the best of their abilities.

As companies grow, more layers of management are often added to streamline productivity and oversee different teams. Depending on a manager's capabilities, teams can range from a few people to 15 or more. However, some companies believe that too much bureaucracy can slow output, leading to managerial cuts. In 2023, managers and executives accounted for half of all layoffs, according to Live Data Technologies. Amazon and United Parcel Service contributed to the trend, eliminating thousands of management jobs in 2024.

Organizational flattening may make headlines, but having a good manager can go a long way toward keeping workers motivated and projects on track. A 2021 Gallup report found that managerial quality is responsible for 70% of a team's engagement level, meaning that the right leader can make a profound impact on an organization.

As vital as managers are, compensation for these jobs varies by industry. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying management jobs in Houston. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

create jobs 51 // Shutterstock

1 / 37

#37. Legislators

- Median annual wage: $37,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

2 / 37

#36. Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare

- Median annual wage: $48,850
- Median hourly wage: $23.48
- Total employment: 2,020 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SpeedKingz // Shutterstock

3 / 37

#35. Personal service managers, all other

- Median annual wage: $49,660
- Median hourly wage: $23.87
- Total employment: 410 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

4 / 37

#34. Funeral home managers

- Median annual wage: $64,250
- Median hourly wage: $30.89
- Total employment: 260 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

5 / 37

#33. Social and community service managers

- Median annual wage: $67,980
- Median hourly wage: $32.68
- Total employment: 2,760 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

6 / 37

#32. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $69,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.47
- Total employment: 3,570 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

7 / 37

#31. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $72,300
- Median hourly wage: $34.76
- Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

8 / 37

#30. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $75,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: Not available

Motortion Films // Shutterstock

9 / 37

#29. Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling

- Median annual wage: $76,450
- Median hourly wage: $36.76
- Total employment: 560 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

10 / 37

#28. Education administrators, all other

- Median annual wage: $77,700
- Median hourly wage: $37.36
- Total employment: 710 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

11 / 37

#27. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $79,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.99
- Total employment: 470 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock

12 / 37

#26. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

- Median annual wage: $97,300
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 7,980 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

13 / 37

#25. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $99,130
- Median hourly wage: $47.66
- Total employment: 90 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

14 / 37

#24. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $100,450
- Median hourly wage: $48.29
- Total employment: 7,730 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

15 / 37

#23. Fundraising managers

- Median annual wage: $100,970
- Median hourly wage: $48.54
- Total employment: 670 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PanuShot // Shutterstock

16 / 37

#22. Advertising and promotions managers

- Median annual wage: $101,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.63
- Total employment: Not available

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

17 / 37

#21. Construction managers

- Median annual wage: $101,850
- Median hourly wage: $48.97
- Total employment: 15,240 people (4.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

possohh // Shutterstock

18 / 37

#20. Emergency management directors

- Median annual wage: $101,870
- Median hourly wage: $48.97
- Total employment: 260 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

19 / 37

#19. Education administrators, postsecondary

- Median annual wage: $102,920
- Median hourly wage: $49.48
- Total employment: 2,830 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

creativemarc // Shutterstock

20 / 37

#18. Administrative services managers

- Median annual wage: $104,560
- Median hourly wage: $50.27
- Total employment: Not available

You may also like: Houston 7-day weather forecast

fizkes // Shutterstock

21 / 37

#17. General and operations managers

- Median annual wage: $108,090
- Median hourly wage: $51.97
- Total employment: 105,830 people (32.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock

22 / 37

#16. Facilities managers

- Median annual wage: $112,320
- Median hourly wage: $54.00
- Total employment: 3,010 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

23 / 37

#15. Medical and health services managers

- Median annual wage: $119,990
- Median hourly wage: $57.69
- Total employment: 13,050 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

24 / 37

#14. Public relations managers

- Median annual wage: $125,130
- Median hourly wage: $60.16
- Total employment: 1,850 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

25 / 37

#13. Training and development managers

- Median annual wage: $129,740
- Median hourly wage: $62.38
- Total employment: 1,540 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

VE.Studio // Shutterstock

26 / 37

#12. Natural sciences managers

- Median annual wage: $130,190
- Median hourly wage: $62.59
- Total employment: 3,240 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

dokurose // Shutterstock

27 / 37

#11. Sales managers

- Median annual wage: $131,040
- Median hourly wage: $63.00
- Total employment: 17,400 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock

28 / 37

#10. Industrial production managers

- Median annual wage: $132,180
- Median hourly wage: $63.55
- Total employment: 6,370 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

29 / 37

#9. Purchasing managers

- Median annual wage: $133,670
- Median hourly wage: $64.26
- Total employment: 2,230 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

30 / 37

#8. Managers, all other

- Median annual wage: $134,420
- Median hourly wage: $64.62
- Total employment: Not available

You may also like: Best public middle schools in the Houston metro area

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

31 / 37

#7. Human resources managers

- Median annual wage: $136,110
- Median hourly wage: $65.44
- Total employment: Not available

fizkes // Shutterstock

32 / 37

#6. Compensation and benefits managers

- Median annual wage: $140,710
- Median hourly wage: $67.65
- Total employment: 470 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

33 / 37

#5. Marketing managers

- Median annual wage: $144,420
- Median hourly wage: $69.44
- Total employment: 9,210 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kanghophoto // Shutterstock

34 / 37

#4. Financial managers

- Median annual wage: $165,220
- Median hourly wage: $79.43
- Total employment: 17,440 people (5.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock

35 / 37

#3. Computer and information systems managers

- Median annual wage: $167,630
- Median hourly wage: $80.59
- Total employment: 13,320 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Houston

BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock

36 / 37

#2. Architectural and engineering managers

- Median annual wage: $172,810
- Median hourly wage: $83.08
- Total employment: 5,510 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

37 / 37

#1. Chief executives

- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,930 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

Highest-paying management jobs for people in Houston

#37. Legislators

#36. Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare

#35. Personal service managers, all other

#34. Funeral home managers

#33. Social and community service managers

#32. Food service managers

#31. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

#30. Property, real estate, and community association managers

#29. Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling

#28. Education administrators, all other

#27. Lodging managers

#26. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

#25. Postmasters and mail superintendents

#24. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

#23. Fundraising managers

#22. Advertising and promotions managers

#21. Construction managers

#20. Emergency management directors

#19. Education administrators, postsecondary

#18. Administrative services managers

#17. General and operations managers

#16. Facilities managers

#15. Medical and health services managers

#14. Public relations managers

#13. Training and development managers

#12. Natural sciences managers

#11. Sales managers

#10. Industrial production managers

#9. Purchasing managers

#8. Managers, all other

#7. Human resources managers

#6. Compensation and benefits managers

#5. Marketing managers

#4. Financial managers

#3. Computer and information systems managers

#2. Architectural and engineering managers

#1. Chief executives

Trending stories

100 best TV shows of all time

100 best films of the 21st century, according to critics

Best black and white films of all time

Top 50 women-directed movies of the last 10 years