Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Boston, MA vs Houston, TX

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Boston, MA
$194,297
/ year
+42%
difference
Houston, TX
$136,698
/ year
Bottom line: Houston offers better purchasing power despite Boston paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Boston
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$194,297✓ higher
$136,698
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$125,651✓ higher
$88,402
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$300,446✓ higher
$211,379
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$129,944✓ higher
$93,217
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$138,784
$139,488✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$125,651✓ higher
$88,402
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$300,446✓ higher
$211,379

What if you move from Boston to Houston?

Gross salary change
$57,599
42% decrease
Take-home change
$36,727
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$704
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Boston, MA$194,297
P10: $125,651Median: $194,297P90: $300,446
Houston, TX$136,698
P10: $88,402Median: $136,698P90: $211,379

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Engineer earn more in Boston or Houston?

The median Data Engineer salary in Boston, MA is $194,297/yr compared to $136,698/yr in Houston, TX. Boston pays 42% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Engineer salary worth more in Boston or Houston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $138,784/yr in a median-cost city, vs $139,488/yr for Houston. Houston offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Engineer in Boston vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $129,944/yr, vs $93,217/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.