Salary Comparison

Site Reliability 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
$183,907
/ year
+17%
difference
Houston, TX
$156,642
/ 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
$183,907✓ higher
$156,642
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$118,932✓ higher
$101,300
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$284,380✓ higher
$242,219
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$122,878✓ higher
$105,253
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$164,203✓ higher
$159,839
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$118,932✓ higher
$101,300
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$284,380✓ higher
$242,219

What if you move from Austin to Houston?

Gross salary change
$27,265
17% decrease
Take-home change
$17,625
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$4,364
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$183,907
P10: $118,932Median: $183,907P90: $284,380
Houston, TX$156,642
P10: $101,300Median: $156,642P90: $242,219

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Site Reliability Engineer earn more in Austin or Houston?

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Austin, TX is $183,907/yr compared to $156,642/yr in Houston, TX. Austin pays 17% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Site Reliability 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 $164,203/yr in a median-cost city, vs $159,839/yr for Houston. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Austin, TX takes home approximately $122,878/yr, vs $105,253/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.