Cost of hiring a customer support specialist in Houston-Pasadena, TX
For this job Houston-Pasadena sits right at the Texas figure, with a median of $40,380 a year[1]. That is about level with the Texas statewide median of $40,420, and 9.8% below the US median of $44,770. Among US areas it comes in at #271 of 520. BLS counts about 65,510 people in this job here, 19% of the Texas total.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Houston-Pasadena against Texas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | $28,600 | $40,380 | $59,840 | |
| Texas | $29,320 | $40,420 | $59,590 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
Customer support specialists at the 90th percentile earn $59,840, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of customer support specialists in Houston-Pasadena earns $35,610–$48,500.
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,600 | $2,383 | $13.75 | $40,857 |
| 25th percentile | $35,610 | $2,968 | $17.12 | $50,871 |
| Median | $40,380 | $3,365 | $19.41 | $57,686 |
| 75th percentile | $48,500 | $4,042 | $23.32 | $69,286 |
| 90th percentile | $59,840 | $4,987 | $28.77 | $85,486 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,770 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,120, or about $11,600 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Houston-Pasadena
At the $40,380 median, a local hire costs about $57,686 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $17,306 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,500–$3,000[3] with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month[4]. Change any number below to match your plan.
For the $57,686 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 4.3 remote hires in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two the fee drops out and the remote figure is $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our Telegram bot with a written and a voice English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff checks English on a live call before any client interview.
Other roles in Houston-Pasadena
Of the 17 roles we track in Houston-Pasadena, this one ranks #15 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,510 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $35,350.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +146.4% | 35,550 | |
| Accountant | +110.7% | 28,400 | |
| Executive Assistant | +85.4% | 7,390 | |
| Recruiter | +79.7% | 18,320 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +66.8% | 14,480 | |
| Office Manager | +63.4% | 36,940 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +56.2% | 28,720 | |
| Paralegal | +55.3% | 7,320 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +34.0% | 3,260 | |
| Bookkeeper | +22.5% | 26,090 | |
| HR Assistant | +21.1% | 1,140 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +15.8% | 33,710 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +13.0% | 1,270 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +9.5% | 20,220 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 65,510 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -2.1% | 4,430 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -12.5% | 17,140 |
Other areas in Texas
Across the 32 areas of Texas with data for this job, the median runs from $31,790 in the Border Region of Texas nonmetro area to $44,990 in Dallas-Fort Worth, a gap of $13,200 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Houston-Pasadena | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TX | +11.2% | 1,340 | |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | +8.3% | 32,690 | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | +5.8% | 34,730 | |
| Houston-Pasadena, TX | this area | 65,510 | |
| Odessa, TX | -2.7% | 1,150 | |
| Amarillo, TX | -3.4% | 2,280 | |
| Waco, TX | -3.9% | 3,260 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Houston-Pasadena, TX?
About $57,686 a year at the median, or $4,807 a month: $40,380 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for customer support specialists in Houston-Pasadena?
The median was $40,380 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,600, the 90th $59,840, and the middle half earned $35,610 to $48,500.
Is Houston-Pasadena cheaper than the rest of Texas for customer support specialists?
About the same: a median of $40,380 against $40,420 statewide. Dallas-Fort Worth pays the most ($44,990) and the Border Region of Texas nonmetro area the least ($31,790).
How many customer support specialists work in Houston-Pasadena?
BLS counts about 65,510 in the May 2025 survey. That is 19% of the Texas total of 337,170.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than a data entry specialist in Houston-Pasadena?
Yes: $860 a year more at the median. The medians are $40,380 and $39,520.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with Houston-Pasadena?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $57,686 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434051.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.