Salary Comparison

Frontend Developer Salary:
Austin, TX vs Chicago, IL

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

Austin, TX
$146,052
/ year
-2%
difference
Chicago, IL
$149,260
/ year
Bottom line: Austin offers better purchasing power (your money goes further) even if gross salary differs. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Austin
Chicago
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$146,052
$149,260✓ higher
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$94,451
$96,526✓ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$225,844
$230,804✓ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$98,862
$100,798✓ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$130,404✓ higher
$129,791
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12×✓ lower
1.15×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$94,451
$96,526✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$225,844
$230,804✓ higher

What if you move from Austin to Chicago?

Gross salary change
+$3,208
2% increase
Take-home change
+$1,936
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$613
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

Austin, TX$146,052
P10: $94,451Median: $146,052P90: $225,844
Chicago, IL$149,260
P10: $96,526Median: $149,260P90: $230,804

More Frontend Developer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Frontend Developer earn more in Austin or Chicago?

The median Frontend Developer salary in Austin, TX is $146,052/yr compared to $149,260/yr in Chicago, IL. Chicago pays 2% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Frontend Developer salary worth more in Austin or Chicago after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Austin salary has the purchasing power of $130,404/yr in a median-cost city, vs $129,791/yr for Chicago. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Frontend Developer in Austin vs Chicago?

After estimated taxes, a Frontend Developer in Austin, TX takes home approximately $98,862/yr, vs $100,798/yr in Chicago, IL. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.