StateRates

Odessa salaries

The median worker in the Odessa, TX metro area earned $47,420 a year in 2024, about $22.80 an hour. That ranks #167 of the 391 metro areas published here, 4.2% below the national median.

Texas

Median pay $47,420 $22.80 per hour
Vs national -4.2% U.S. $49,500
Workers 79,150 wage and salary
Metro rank #167 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Odessa pays 0.2% less than Texas as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas 88.67× 2,010 $50,510
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas 56.08× 1,300 $47,120
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 7.17× 1,550 $59,780
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines 5.58× 520 $68,660
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 3.69× 890 $50,150
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 3.69× 800 $60,840
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers 3.43× 1,420 $73,410
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 3.09× 3,280 $55,110
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 2.94× 890 $49,450
Construction Laborers 2.7× 1,470 $37,830
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers 2.3× 710 $79,810
Food Preparation Workers 2.17× 990 $27,970

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Odessa
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Financial Managers $146,160 $70.27 220
Petroleum Engineers $134,280 $64.56 310
Sales Managers $129,140 $62.09 330
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products $104,860 $50.42 230
Medical and Health Services Managers $102,440 $49.25 240
Construction Managers $101,650 $48.87 400
General and Operations Managers $99,960 $48.06 2,730
Project Management Specialists $91,300 $43.90 410
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $79,810 $38.37 710
Registered Nurses $78,270 $37.63 1,120
Accountants and Auditors $76,930 $36.99 490
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $75,110 $36.11 620
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $73,410 $35.30 1,420
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $70,650 $33.97 400
Human Resources Specialists $69,850 $33.58 280
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines $68,660 $33.01 520
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $65,350 n/a 620
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $65,290 n/a 460
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $64,840 n/a 360
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $63,860 $30.70 870
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $62,510 $30.05 420
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $62,220 $29.91 750
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $60,840 $29.25 800
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary $59,960 n/a 270
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $59,780 $28.74 1,550
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $59,630 $28.67 280
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $58,840 $28.29 410
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $58,510 $28.13 270
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks $57,550 $27.67 200
Machinists $57,470 $27.63 450
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas $57,250 $27.53 290
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,110 $26.50 3,280
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance $54,080 $26.00 260
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $52,270 $25.13 230
Electricians $50,810 $24.43 660
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas $50,510 $24.28 2,010
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $50,150 $24.11 890
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door $49,920 $24.00 310
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,450 $23.77 890
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics $48,740 $23.43 560
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas $47,120 $22.65 1,300
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $46,680 $22.44 810
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $46,560 $22.38 340
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas $45,730 $21.99 280
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $44,470 $21.38 290
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General $44,360 $21.33 700
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers $42,950 $20.65 650
Parts Salespersons $42,710 $20.54 380
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $42,640 $20.50 920
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $40,490 $19.47 520
Light Truck Drivers $39,730 $19.10 470
Office Clerks, General $39,210 $18.85 1,280
Stockers and Order Fillers $39,100 $18.80 1,620
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $38,490 $18.51 310
Helpers--Production Workers $38,460 $18.49 270
Customer Service Representatives $38,130 $18.33 1,070
Tellers $38,050 $18.29 200
Construction Laborers $37,830 $18.19 1,470
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $37,530 $18.04 1,410
Counter and Rental Clerks $37,440 $18.00 260

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Odessa by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 3,280 $55,110 $26.50
General and Operations Managers 2,730 $99,960 $48.06
Fast Food and Counter Workers 2,490 $27,120 $13.04
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas 2,010 $50,510 $24.28
Retail Salespersons 1,820 $30,900 $14.86
Cashiers 1,790 $28,180 $13.55
Stockers and Order Fillers 1,620 $39,100 $18.80
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 1,550 $59,780 $28.74
Construction Laborers 1,470 $37,830 $18.19
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers 1,420 $73,410 $35.30
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,410 $37,530 $18.04
Waiters and Waitresses 1,380 $28,010 $13.47
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas 1,300 $47,120 $22.65
Office Clerks, General 1,280 $39,210 $18.85
Registered Nurses 1,120 $78,270 $37.63
Customer Service Representatives 1,070 $38,130 $18.33
Food Preparation Workers 990 $27,970 $13.45
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 920 $42,640 $20.50
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 890 $50,150 $24.11
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 890 $49,450 $23.77

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Texas metro areas

Odessa pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Odessa?

The median across all occupations is $47,420, or $22.80 an hour, covering 79,150 wage and salary workers. The mean is $58,370, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Odessa pay more than the rest of Texas?

No. The metro median of $47,420 is 0.2% below the Texas median of $47,500. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Odessa?

Financial Managers ($146,160), Petroleum Engineers ($134,280), Sales Managers ($129,140). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Odessa unusually full of?

Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas, at 88.67× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.