Software Engineer pay in Houston, by the numbers
After a simplified 15% national tax estimate that is about US$9,100 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
Software Engineer pay in Houston: national and in-state ranking
Directly above Houston is Jacksonville (US$130,330); directly below is San Antonio (US$128,430). The full range runs from US$128,430 in San Antonio to US$213,110 in San Jose.
TX has 4 metros with observed figures for this role. Their average is US$131,300, and Houston comes 3rd, -1% against it; elsewhere in the state: San Antonio (US$128,430), Dallas (US$133,290) and Austin (US$134,120).
What the Houston median is worth after tax and rent
Price levels in Houston (index 100) neither inflate nor shrink the paycheck much; adjusted for costs it is worth about US$129,400.
Cash rank and buying-power rank match for Houston: 20th of 21.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$9,100 monthly (15% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 18% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$5,630 in the black.
Houston vs nearby TX metros
In San Antonio — also in TX — the median is US$128,430 (-1% vs Houston), and the modeled budget leaves US$50 less each month.
A software engineer moving from Houston to Dallas (also in TX) would see the median rise 3% to US$133,290, with US$250 more left over monthly in our model.
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$166,830 (+29% vs Houston), and the modeled budget leaves US$2,380 more each month.
Where Software Engineer ranks among Houston jobs
Software Engineer ranks 2nd of 9 occupations with observed Houston data. Lawyer leads the city at US$157,980.
Closest neighbours in the Houston list: Mechanical Engineer at US$125,350 (-3%).
Where Houston stands for junior and senior software engineers
Top earners do comparatively well in Houston — 16th of 21 at the 90th percentile — while entry-level pay ranks 20th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$289,150 at the 90th percentile, +59% against Houston.
Spread between low and high software engineer pay in Houston
The 90th percentile (US$181,770) is 2.3× the 10th (US$80,400), a wide band that usually reflects different seniority levels and employer types under one title.