Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Houston

Written by:
August 29, 2022
B Brown // Shutterstock

Highest and lowest paying education jobs in Houston

Whether you picture hard-working teachers buying school supplies for their students or genius professors shaping future leaders, it's fair to say education encompasses a wide variety of jobs. So much so that there's room to specialize and pursue your passion.

Historically, teachers' pay is a rather contentious topic. The average teacher salary is about $2,000 less than a decade ago after adjusting for inflation. Despite this, many of these jobs are rewarding in more ways than one. In other words, education can be very lucrative—particularly within specialty fields.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying education jobs in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Keep reading to discover the highest and lowest paying education jobs in your city.

#51. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $24,840
- #406 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 20,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,760
- Employment: 1,187,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($45,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,820)

#50. Tutors

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $29,740
- #302 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,060

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,780
- Employment: 147,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Pittsfield, MA ($82,910)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($68,440)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($60,110)

#49. Teaching assistants, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,120

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 121,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Arecibo, PR ($62,080)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($59,380)

#48. Library technicians

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $34,910
- #190 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,070
- Employment: 73,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($61,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,950)
--- Napa, CA ($57,890)

#47. Preschool teachers, except special education

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $37,240
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,270

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,460
- Employment: 391,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($49,990)
--- Ocean City, NJ ($49,720)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($49,560)

#46. Self-enrichment teachers

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $37,700
- #292 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,600

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,230
- Employment: 216,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,350)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($66,650)
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($63,470)

#45. Museum technicians and conservators

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $40,660
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,030
- Employment: 10,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,670)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($73,740)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($68,180)

#44. Substitute teachers, short-term

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $47,110
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,700

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,410
- Employment: 374,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Prescott, AZ ($64,310)
--- Appleton, WI ($63,310)
--- Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL ($58,770)

#43. Archivists

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $58,200
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 6,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($84,080)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($79,270)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,800)

#42. Curators

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $58,470
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,880
- Employment: 11,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($94,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,680)

#41. Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $59,080
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 850

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,650
- Employment: 38,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($96,640)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,740)

#40. Elementary school teachers, except special education

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $62,730
- #170 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 32,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,080
- Employment: 1,329,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,860)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($91,430)
--- Salinas, CA ($91,280)

#39. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $62,760
- #164 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 16,880

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,880
- Employment: 592,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($109,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,280)
--- Yuba City, CA ($94,480)

#38. Kindergarten teachers, except special education

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $62,940
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,290

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,490
- Employment: 120,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($95,420)
--- Kingston, NY ($92,160)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,490)

#37. Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $63,350
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,820

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 187,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($102,210)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($92,730)
--- Chico, CA ($88,430)

#36. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $63,410
- #184 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 22,570

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,530
- Employment: 1,020,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,010)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($101,980)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($97,490)

#35. Special education teachers, middle school

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $63,500
- #101 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- Employment: 79,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($117,940)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($94,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($94,140)

#34. Special education teachers, secondary school

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $64,220
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,760

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,100
- Employment: 145,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($110,320)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($106,590)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($103,540)

#33. Career/technical education teachers, middle school

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $64,350
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,410
- Employment: 11,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($139,720)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,750)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,790)

#32. Librarians and media collections specialists

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $65,040
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,960

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,180
- Employment: 127,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($94,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,990)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($89,220)

#31. Career/technical education teachers, secondary school

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $66,450
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,760

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,960
- Employment: 84,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,160)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,490)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($115,060)

#30. Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $68,990
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,080
- Employment: 13,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($136,830)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($123,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($121,590)

#29. Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $69,460
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,130

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,130
- Employment: 105,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($116,850)
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($97,110)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,200)

#28. Criminal justice and law enforcement teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $69,570
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,730
- Employment: 13,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($161,540)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($152,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($132,020)

#27. Instructional coordinators

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $70,600
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,740

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,560
- Employment: 184,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($93,890)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($93,760)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,430)

#26. Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $72,530
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,590

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,240
- Employment: 94,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($180,910)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($160,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($151,060)

#25. Education teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $73,530
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 960

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,990
- Employment: 58,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,140)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($112,130)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($110,160)

#24. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $75,300
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,060

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,680
- Employment: 58,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($162,660)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,980)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($132,320)

#23. Communications teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $75,810
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,580
- Employment: 27,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,400)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($127,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,320)

#22. Sociology teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $75,900
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,850
- Employment: 12,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($143,100)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($139,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($119,830)

#21. Psychology teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $78,930
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,390
- Employment: 36,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($141,130)
--- Iowa City, IA ($131,770)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($117,020)

#20. Mathematical science teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $79,610
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,980
- Employment: 44,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($157,340)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($149,220)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($138,090)

#19. History teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $79,630
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,460
- Employment: 18,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($148,420)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($129,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,560)

#18. Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $80,340
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,260
- Employment: 20,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($147,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($129,190)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,730)

#17. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $80,700
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,680
- Employment: 9,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($160,290)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($137,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($119,510)

#16. Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $80,820
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,600

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,040
- Employment: 68,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($146,700)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($109,450)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($109,310)

#15. Geography teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $81,790
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,150
- Employment: 3,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($140,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,200)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($116,120)

#14. Foreign language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $82,250
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,990
- Employment: 19,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,170)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($130,560)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($129,250)

#13. Political science teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $83,630
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,980
- Employment: 14,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($155,350)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($150,290)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($140,340)

#12. Physics teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $85,980
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $99,480
- Employment: 12,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($148,140)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($144,580)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($142,450)

#11. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $86,790
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,710
- Employment: 47,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($181,560)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($166,470)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,140)

#10. Chemistry teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $88,270
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,060
- Employment: 20,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($140,550)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($136,870)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($135,160)

#9. Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $94,840
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,840
- Employment: 10,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,120)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($149,790)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($147,770)

#8. Environmental science teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $97,130
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,210
- Employment: 5,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($133,560)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($126,820)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($120,840)

#7. Computer science teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $97,270
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $89,610
- Employment: 37,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($152,280)
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($145,360)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($144,170)

#6. Business teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $99,530
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,370

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,720
- Employment: 79,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Auburn-Opelika, AL ($175,640)
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($175,080)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($154,600)

#5. Engineering teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $110,690
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,590
- Employment: 35,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($157,030)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($153,050)

#4. Anthropology and archeology teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $112,040
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,110
- Employment: 5,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,530)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($128,760)

#3. Economics teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $113,770
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $124,090
- Employment: 11,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($180,550)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($180,490)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($172,600)

#2. Law teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $141,790
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $130,820
- Employment: 14,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($165,990)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($152,750)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($152,190)

#1. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
- Annual mean salary: $177,780
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $133,310
- Employment: 191,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($226,440)
--- Jackson, MS ($202,690)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($183,250)

Trending Now