Average salary in Texas
This article will take you through the main things you need to know about the average salaries and highest paying counties in Texas.
The sheer size of Texas makes it difficult to define a ‘good’ salary. The Lone Star State is home to some of the country’s largest and most diverse cities, yet earnings can vary significantly across the state. Whether you already live in Texas, or are thinking of making the move, it can be helpful to establish what the financial landscape looks like.
According to data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, Texas ranks as the 13th lowest state in the country for cost of living. This means that Texans generally have more purchasing power and can make their money go further than in many other states. But which cities and counties offer the highest average salaries?
Average salary in Texas by city
City living can also be lucrative in Texas, with cities like Austin, Houston, and Dallas offering a range of high-paying jobs across industries such as tech, healthcare, and finance.
Average earnings by city—or any other geographical metric—is just one way of calculating wealth, and certainly shouldn’t be the only way you look at your own earning potential in a given place. It doesn’t take into account the type of jobs that people do to earn above or below this average bracket, and omits any consideration for the number of people living in a household. However, it’s certainly one way of establishing which place offers good earning opportunities.
The US Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey has calculated the average earnings for the 20 largest cities in Texas, which you can find ranked below.
| City | Average earnings |
|---|---|
| Flower Mound | $133,521 |
| Frisco | $122,302 |
| The Woodlands | $117,180 |
| Sugar Land | $110,798 |
| Allen | $106,475 |
| Pearland | $105,806 |
| Atascocita | $99,789 |
| Cedar Park | $99,461 |
| League City | $98,593 |
| Plano | $94,306 |
| McKinney | $93,546 |
| Mansfield | $88,736 |
| Round Rock | $79,444 |
| Carrollton | $77,998 |
| Missouri City | $76,572 |
| Midland | $75,886 |
| Richardson | $72,635 |
| Georgetown | $71,829 |
| Austin | $67,755 |
| North Richland Hills | $67,307 |
Average salary in Texas by county
Reviewing average salaries in Texas by city is not necessarily an adequate metric for average salaries across the state, since it’s entirely urban focused. A good idea is to weigh these figures up against the average salary in Texas by county, as this will take areas outside the main cities into account and offer a broader idea of salary ranges.
The same survey from the US Census Bureau gives further insight this way, with the average household income calculated for each county. Below are the 10 counties with the highest average income:
| County | Average household income |
|---|---|
| Rockwall | $120,696 |
| Glasscock | $116,958 |
| Kendall | $102,832 |
| Collin | $102,119 |
| Loving | $100,917 |
| Fort Bend | $98,070 |
| Denton | $98,027 |
| Williamson | $96,653 |
| Comal | $93,487 |
| Chambers | $89,767 |
Highest paying jobs in Texas
There’s another weighty factor that will influence how much you earn if you live in Texas: your job type. Average salaries for various sectors and job roles can vary massively across the state, so it’s absolutely something to consider when looking at salaries by location.
Zippia has calculated a comprehensive list of annual salaries by job title. You can also find the top 10 highest-paying titles in Texas below.
| Occupation | Average salary |
|---|---|
| Hospitalist Physician | $228,864 |
| Finance Services Director | $216,095 |
| Physician-Pediatrician | $209,000 |
| Assistant Professor Of Surgery | $199,746 |
| Medical Director | $197,966 |
| Md Physician-Dermatologist | $197,488 |
| Interventional Pain Physician | $196,550 |
| Staff Psychiatrist | $195,679 |
| Senior Vice President, Engineering | $193,306 |
| President Of Operations | $193,060 |
Frequently asked questions about salaries in Texas
What is the average salary in Texas by age?
Alongside location and occupation, salaries in Texas are also dependent on age, since more senior workers will be paid more. Then, when they retire, their income will dip again as they will rely on pensions and other forms of set income.
The Census Bureau data finds that householders under 25 have a median household income of $51,390; householders aged 24 to 44 years old have a median income of $80,771; those aged 45 to 64 years old have a median income of $85,077; and those 65 and older have a median income of $48,708.
What is a ‘good’ salary in Texas?
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for all occupations in Texas is $54,220, which is slightly below the national average. However, some occupations and locations within the state offer higher earning potential. For example, workers in the technology and healthcare industries in major cities such as Houston, Austin, and Dallas can earn well above the state average.
What is the average salary in Texas by hour?
If Americans work an average of 1,801 hours per year—at 37.5 hours a week—then the average hourly salary in Texas is $26.07.
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Content writer
Kate has written for leading publications and blue chip companies over the last 20 years.