Salaries & Cost of Living in Houston, Texas
A diverse global powerhouse with zero state income tax, affordable real estate, and booming energy transition and aerospace sectors. Discover salary benchmarks, wage percentiles, state income tax deductions, and housing costs across 20+ high-demand professions in Houston.
Houston Cost of Living by Expense Category
Normalized cost index (100 = U.S. National Average).
Key City Advantages & Living Factors
Climate: Humid Subtropical (Warm)Role Salaries in Houston
Explore 10th to 90th percentile salary benchmarks and estimated monthly take-home pay in Houston.
| Job Title | Category | Median Base Pay | Est. Net Take-Home | View Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Product Manager | Product | $196,100/yr | ~$13,237/mo | View |
| Senior Software Engineer | Engineering | $185,500/yr | ~$12,521/mo | View |
| Product Manager | Product | $150,520/yr | ~$10,160/mo | View |
| DevOps & Cloud Engineer | Engineering | $148,400/yr | ~$10,017/mo | View |
| Data Scientist | Data | $146,280/yr | ~$9,874/mo | View |
| Backend Engineer | Engineering | $143,100/yr | ~$9,659/mo | View |
| Software Engineer | Engineering | $139,920/yr | ~$9,445/mo | View |
| Frontend Engineer | Engineering | $131,440/yr | ~$8,872/mo | View |
| Product Designer | Design | $129,320/yr | ~$8,729/mo | View |
| Growth Marketer | Marketing | $121,900/yr | ~$8,228/mo | View |
| UX / UI Designer | Design | $118,720/yr | ~$8,014/mo | View |
| Marketing Manager | Marketing | $114,480/yr | ~$7,727/mo | View |
| Account Executive (SaaS) | Sales | $111,300/yr | ~$7,513/mo | View |
| QA & Test Automation Engineer | Engineering | $108,120/yr | ~$7,298/mo | View |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $101,760/yr | ~$6,869/mo | View |
| Technical Recruiter | Human Resources | $99,640/yr | ~$6,726/mo | View |
| Data Analyst | Data | $97,520/yr | ~$6,583/mo | View |
| Customer Success Manager | Customer Support | $94,340/yr | ~$6,761/mo | View |
| SEO Specialist | Marketing | $90,100/yr | ~$6,457/mo | View |
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Relocation Comparisons from Houston
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Frequently Asked Questions: Living & Working in Houston
What is considered a good salary in Houston?
In Houston, an annual salary between $90,000 and $140,000 is generally considered very comfortable for a single professional, easily covering median 1-bedroom rental costs ($1,350/mo) while allowing significant savings thanks to 0% state income tax.
How do salaries in Houston compare to the U.S. national average?
On average, compensation in Houston is 6% above the U.S. national baseline across technology, product, and engineering roles.
What are state income taxes in Houston (TX)?
Houston has 0% state income tax, which increases your net take-home pay by 4% to 10% compared to states like California or New York.
What is the average rent in Houston?
The median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Houston, Texas is currently around $1,350 per month.
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