Salary Comparison

NLP Engineer Salary:
Austin, TX vs Houston, TX

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

Austin, TX
$191,551
/ year
+16%
difference
Houston, TX
$165,210
/ 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
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$191,551✓ higher
$165,210
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$123,875✓ higher
$106,841
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$296,200✓ higher
$255,468
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$128,076✓ higher
$110,424
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$171,028✓ higher
$168,582
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$123,875✓ higher
$106,841
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$296,200✓ higher
$255,468

What if you move from Austin to Houston?

Gross salary change
$26,341
16% decrease
Take-home change
$17,652
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$2,446
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$191,551
P10: $123,875Median: $191,551P90: $296,200
Houston, TX$165,210
P10: $106,841Median: $165,210P90: $255,468

More NLP Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a NLP Engineer earn more in Austin or Houston?

The median NLP Engineer salary in Austin, TX is $191,551/yr compared to $165,210/yr in Houston, TX. Austin pays 16% more in gross terms.

▶Is a NLP Engineer salary worth more in Austin or Houston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Austin salary has the purchasing power of $171,028/yr in a median-cost city, vs $168,582/yr for Houston. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a NLP Engineer in Austin vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a NLP Engineer in Austin, TX takes home approximately $128,076/yr, vs $110,424/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.