Computer Programmers Salary
Computer Programmers in Texas make a median of $99,330 a year, or about $47.76 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $108,569 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 21.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $99K actually covers in Texas, month by month
About computer programmers
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What this looks like in Texas
Computer programmers pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $99K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,415/month, 21.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level computer programmers (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Programmers salary by metro in Texas
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $102K | +3% | 3,260 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $101K | +1% | N/A |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $96K | -3% | 1,340 |
| Waco | $87K | -13% | 70 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $83K | -17% | 40 |
| Killeen-Temple | $81K | -18% | 40 |
| College Station-Bryan | $81K | -19% | 60 |
| Amarillo | $78K | -22% | 60 |
| Longview | $76K | -23% | 40 |
| Midland | $76K | -24% | 60 |
| Corpus Christi | $75K | -25% | 60 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $72K | -27% | 60 |
| Lubbock | $70K | -29% | 100 |
| El Paso | $65K | -34% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a computer programmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 21.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer programmers in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer programmers typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,195/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer programmer a high-paying job in Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $99K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for computer programmers?
Texas pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer programmers make in Texas?
The median is $99,330 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,120, and experienced computer programmers can clear $143,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,522/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 21.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer programmers salary go in Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer programmers salary is worth about $108,569 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer programmers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.