Salary Comparison

Frontend Developer Salary:
Austin, TX vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Austin, TX
$145,661
/ year
+1%
difference
Los Angeles, CA
$144,138
/ year
Bottom line: Austin wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Austin
Los Angeles
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$145,661✓ higher
$144,138
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$94,198✓ higher
$93,213
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$225,239✓ higher
$222,884
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$98,626✓ higher
$97,707
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$130,054✓ higher
$104,448
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12×✓ lower
1.38×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$94,198✓ higher
$93,213
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$225,239✓ higher
$222,884

What if you move from Austin to Los Angeles?

Gross salary change
$1,523
1% decrease
Take-home change
$919
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$25,606
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$145,661
P10: $94,198Median: $145,661P90: $225,239
Los Angeles, CA$144,138
P10: $93,213Median: $144,138P90: $222,884

More Frontend Developer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Frontend Developer earn more in Austin or Los Angeles?

The median Frontend Developer salary in Austin, TX is $145,661/yr compared to $144,138/yr in Los Angeles, CA. Austin pays 1% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Austin salary has the purchasing power of $130,054/yr in a median-cost city, vs $104,448/yr for Los Angeles. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Frontend Developer in Austin, TX takes home approximately $98,626/yr, vs $97,707/yr in Los Angeles, CA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.