The salary range for a software engineer in Texas runs from $82,600 at the 10th percentile to $183,680 at the 90th percentile. The middle half of the market falls between $103,350 and $162,530, which is the most useful range to anchor your offer to for most mid-level roles. Where a candidate lands within that range depends on their seniority, specialization, and the city where they will be working.
Software engineer salary in Texas (2026)
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The average software engineer salary in Texas is $136,450 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $132,150 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Texas employs 163,880 software engineers, and the $4,300 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior engineers in Texas typically earn around $82,600, while senior specialists reach and exceed $183,680. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a software engineer hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $132,150 |
Average Annual Salary | $136,450 |
vs. National Average | 7.9% below the national mean of $148,100 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 163,880 employed software engineers across Texas.
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Software engineer salary percentiles in Texas
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $82,600 |
25th Percentile | $103,350 |
75th Percentile | $162,530 |
90th Percentile | $183,680 |
When setting an offer for a software engineer in Texas, the $103,350 to $162,530 band covers the middle half of the market and gives you a practical anchor for most mid-level roles. For senior or specialized hires, you should expect to move toward or above the $183,680 threshold to remain competitive.
Software engineer salary by city in Texas
City | Average Annual Salary |
Austin | $143,630 |
Dallas | $138,810 |
Houston | $133,130 |
San Antonio | $130,080 |
El Paso | $121,370 |
Where you hire within Texas has a meaningful impact on your compensation budget. Austin commands the highest average at $143,630, while El Paso sits at $121,370, a spread of more than $22,000 that you should factor into any location-based hiring or remote pay decisions.
How Texas compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Texas | $136,450 | $132,150 |
California | $186,770 | $174,410 |
New York | $163,820 | $166,180 |
Florida | $137,010 | $130,980 |
Illinois | $136,540 | $132,110 |
Georgia | $132,150 | $131,010 |
Texas is a cost-effective market for software engineer hiring relative to California and New York, which makes it a practical location for employers managing compensation budgets. Texas averages $136,450 compared to California's $186,770 and New York's $163,820, a difference that compounds quickly across a team. Florida and Illinois sit at nearly the same level as Texas, so employers competing across those states should expect similar compensation expectations from candidates.
Frequently asked questions about software engineer salary in Texas
What is the salary range for a software engineer in Texas?
What is the average software engineer salary in Texas?
The average software engineer salary in Texas is $136,450 per year. The median of $132,150 is a more reliable benchmark for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of high earners pulls the average above the midpoint. Use the median as your baseline and adjust upward based on the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
How does Texas compare to other states for software engineer salary?
Texas sits below the national mean of $148,100 by 7.9%, making it a more cost-effective market than California ($186,770) or New York ($163,820). Florida ($137,010) and Illinois ($136,540) are nearly identical to Texas, so candidates moving between those states will arrive with similar pay expectations. This gives Texas-based employers a real budget advantage when competing for talent against California or New York firms.
What do the top-earning software engineers make in Texas?
Software engineers at the 90th percentile in Texas earn $183,680 per year. Senior specialists and engineers in high-demand areas of the market reach and exceed that level, so you should budget above $183,680 when competing for top-tier talent. Austin, where the average is $143,630, tends to concentrate the higher end of the Texas market.
Software Engineer salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 15-1252 (Software Developers).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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