What the data says about software engineer pay in Dallas
After a simplified 16% national tax estimate that is about US$9,400 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
Dallas vs the national and TX picture
On a United States league table of 21 metros, Dallas comes 13th. One place higher is Austin at US$134,120, one lower is Philadelphia at US$133,040, and San Jose tops the list.
TX has 4 metros with observed figures for this role. Their average is US$131,300, and Dallas comes 2nd, +2% against it; elsewhere in the state: Houston (US$129,440), San Antonio (US$128,430) and Austin (US$134,120).
Cost of living and take-home in Dallas
Living costs are close to the baseline (COL index 100), so the median's buying power, about US$133,300, is near its face value.
Adjusting for prices does not move Dallas in the ranking: it is 13th of 21 on both cash and buying power.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$9,400 monthly (16% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 18% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$5,880 in the black.
Dallas vs nearby TX metros
Houston (also in TX) pays US$129,440, 3% less than Dallas; modeled monthly leftover is US$250 lower.
A software engineer moving from Dallas to San Antonio (also in TX) would see the median fall 4% to US$128,430, with US$300 less left over monthly in our model.
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$166,830 (+25% vs Dallas), and the modeled budget leaves US$2,130 more each month.
Other Dallas jobs compared with software engineer
Of the 9 roles we track in Dallas, Software Engineer is 2nd by median; the highest is Lawyer (US$168,510).
Closest neighbours in the Dallas list: Data Scientist at US$127,750 (-4%).
How Dallas ranks at the low and high end
Dallas is relatively stronger at the entry end: its 10th-percentile pay (US$85,920) ranks 12th of 21, while its 90th percentile (US$179,400) ranks 18th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$289,150 at the 90th percentile, +61% against Dallas.
How wide software engineer pay runs in Dallas
Pay is spread out: US$85,920 at the 10th percentile to US$179,400 at the 90th (2.1×). Level and setting matter more than the city average here.