Salary Comparison

Product Designer Salary:
Austin, TX vs Boston, MA

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

Austin, TX
$145,163
/ year
-20%
difference
Boston, MA
$180,337
/ year
Bottom line: Austin offers better purchasing power (your money goes further) even if gross salary differs. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Austin
Boston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$145,163
$180,337โœ“ higher
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$93,876
$116,623โœ“ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$224,469
$278,859โœ“ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$98,325
$120,451โœ“ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$129,610โœ“ higher
$128,812
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12ร—โœ“ lower
1.40ร—
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$93,876
$116,623โœ“ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$224,469
$278,859โœ“ higher

What if you move from Austin to Boston?

Gross salary change
+$35,174
20% increase
Take-home change
+$22,126
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$798
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 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Austin, TX$145,163
P10: $93,876Median: $145,163P90: $224,469
Boston, MA$180,337
P10: $116,623Median: $180,337P90: $278,859

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Product Designer earn more in Austin or Boston?

The median Product Designer salary in Austin, TX is $145,163/yr compared to $180,337/yr in Boston, MA. Boston pays 20% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Product Designer salary worth more in Austin or Boston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Austin salary has the purchasing power of $129,610/yr in a median-cost city, vs $128,812/yr for Boston. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Product Designer in Austin vs Boston?

After estimated taxes, a Product Designer in Austin, TX takes home approximately $98,325/yr, vs $120,451/yr in Boston, MA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.