Computer Programmers pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $145,510 or more. The middle half of computer programmers in Houston earn between $71,530 and $126,450.
- $56K10th
- $72K25th
- $96KMedian
- $126K75th
- $146K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,430 | $8,286 | $47.80 |
| Median | $96,440 | $8,037 | $46.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,530 | $5,961 | $34.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,450 | $10,538 | $60.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer Programmers pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Computer programmers in Houston earn about the same as the Texas average ($100,740) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($105,170). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $100,390.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $99,430 | $96,440 | $56,180 | $145,510 | 1,340 |
| Texas | $100,740 | $99,330 | $60,120 | $143,300 | 7,620 |
| United States | $105,170 | $100,390 | $57,710 | $160,460 | 92,230 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer Programmers salary after taxes in Houston
On the average salary of $99,430, a single filer in Houston takes home about $78,779 a year, or $6,565 a month and $3,030 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for computer programmers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $99,430 buys what about $100,812 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Programmers salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 3rd of 14 Texas metro areas for this job; Austin pays the most ($109,100).
- Austin$109,100
- Dallas$106,330
- Houston$99,430
- Midland$95,170
- Waco$87,720
- Beaumont$84,760
- Corpus Christi$83,550
- College Station$83,510
- Amarillo$82,460
- McAllen$81,490
Highest-paying cities for computer programmers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,780).
- San Jose, CA$150,780
- Boulder, CO$139,840
- Portland, ME$138,860
- Fayetteville, AR$130,080
- San Diego, CA$129,530
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Computer Programmers salary in Houston: questions
How much do computer programmers make an hour in Houston?
$47.80 an hour on average, and $46.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer programmers salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer programmers take-home pay in Houston?
About $78,779 a year ($6,565 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,430. Texas has no state income tax.
Do computer programmers earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($105,170).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-1251; area Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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