Salary Comparison

Product Designer Salary:
Denver, CO vs Houston, TX

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

Denver, CO
$145,051
/ year
+16%
difference
Houston, TX
$125,432
/ year
Bottom line: Houston offers better purchasing power despite Denver paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Denver
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$145,051✓ higher
$125,432
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$93,804✓ higher
$81,116
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$224,296✓ higher
$193,958
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$98,258✓ higher
$86,418
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$127,238
$127,992✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$93,804✓ higher
$81,116
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$224,296✓ higher
$193,958

What if you move from Denver to Houston?

Gross salary change
$19,619
16% decrease
Take-home change
$11,840
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$754
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

Denver, CO$145,051
P10: $93,804Median: $145,051P90: $224,296
Houston, TX$125,432
P10: $81,116Median: $125,432P90: $193,958

More Product Designer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Product Designer salary in Denver, CO is $145,051/yr compared to $125,432/yr in Houston, TX. Denver pays 16% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Product Designer salary worth more in Denver or Houston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Denver salary has the purchasing power of $127,238/yr in a median-cost city, vs $127,992/yr for Houston. Houston offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Product Designer in Denver, CO takes home approximately $98,258/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.