Salary Comparison

Product Designer 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
$145,163
/ year
+16%
difference
Houston, TX
$125,432
/ 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
$145,163✓ higher
$125,432
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$93,876✓ higher
$81,116
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$224,469✓ higher
$193,958
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$98,325✓ higher
$86,418
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$129,610✓ higher
$127,992
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$93,876✓ higher
$81,116
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$224,469✓ higher
$193,958

What if you move from Austin to Houston?

Gross salary change
$19,731
16% decrease
Take-home change
$11,907
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,618
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$145,163
P10: $93,876Median: $145,163P90: $224,469
Houston, TX$125,432
P10: $81,116Median: $125,432P90: $193,958

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Product Designer earn more in Austin or Houston?

The median Product Designer salary in Austin, TX is $145,163/yr compared to $125,432/yr in Houston, TX. Austin pays 16% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Product Designer 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 $129,610/yr in a median-cost city, vs $127,992/yr for Houston. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Product Designer in Austin vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a Product Designer in Austin, TX takes home approximately $98,325/yr, vs $86,418/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.