Updated November 7, 2026 · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Cost of Living in Dallas, TX

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.

Salary comparison calculator

What would you need to earn in Dallas, TX to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?

How expensive is Dallas, TX?

With a price level of 103.1 (U.S. average = 100), Dallas, TX is more expensive than average. In detail, housing costs run 18% above average; everyday goods run 3% above average; utilities are 9% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.

Prices in Dallas, TX vs. the U.S. average

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Rent in Dallas, TX

HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.

Salary needed to live in Dallas, TX

To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:

Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Texas 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.

A monthly budget on the median wage

A single worker earning Dallas, TX's median wage of $51,440 takes home about $3,626 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,586, which is 44% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $2,040 a month for everything else.

Take-home pay in Dallas, TX

Highest-paying jobs in Dallas, TX

*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.

Dallas, TX vs. similar-size cities

Frequently asked questions

Top salaries by field in Dallas, TX

Management Occupations

• Chief Executive — $239,200+
• Computer and Information Systems Manager — $173,810
• Architectural and Engineering Manager — $172,160
• Financial Manager — $169,200
• Marketing Manager — $155,460
• Sales Manager — $144,290
• Human Resources Manager — $140,890
• Managers, All Other — $139,810

Business and Financial Operations Occupations

• Management Analyst — $102,860
• Financial and Investment Analyst — $100,350
• Project Management Specialist — $98,900
• Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $83,600
• Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $82,890
• Accountant and Auditor — $82,620
• Credit Analyst — $80,530
• Insurance Underwriter — $79,590

Computer and Mathematical Occupations

• Database Architect — $154,770
• Computer Network Architect — $137,900
• Information Security Analyst — $133,610
• Software Developer — $133,290
• Data Scientist — $127,750
• Computer Occupations, All Other — $127,360
• Computer Systems Analyst — $122,520
• Database Administrator — $122,390

Architecture and Engineering Occupations

• Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $135,150
• Aerospace Engineer — $134,570
• Electrical Engineer — $124,390
• Engineers, All Other — $110,010
• Industrial Engineer — $105,640
• Mechanical Engineer — $105,420
• Civil Engineer — $96,920
• Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $93,840

Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

• Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $81,000
• Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $79,470

Community and Social Service Occupations

• Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $76,380
• Healthcare Social Worker — $75,930
• Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $62,560
• Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $57,080
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker — $47,390
• Social and Human Service Assistant — $46,850

Legal Occupations

• Lawyer — $168,510
• Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $63,220

Educational Instruction and Library Occupations

• Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $105,280
• Instructional Coordinator — $80,740
• Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $74,340
• Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School — $66,450
• Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $66,440
• Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $65,890
• Special Education Teachers, Middle School — $65,870
• Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $65,660

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

• Public Relations Specialist — $69,280
• Interior Designer — $65,160
• Graphic Designer — $63,780
• Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $38,630
• Coach and Scout — $37,320

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

• Physicians, All Other — $222,410
• Dentists, General — $179,990
• Pharmacist — $138,170
• Physician Assistant — $134,900
• Nurse Practitioner — $130,980
• Physical Therapist — $107,780
• Occupational Therapist — $106,110
• Dental Hygienist — $101,870

Healthcare Support Occupations

• Massage Therapist — $59,010
• Dental Assistant — $47,570
• Phlebotomist — $46,480
• Medical Assistant — $43,100
• Nursing Assistant — $38,530
• Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker — $36,040
• Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $26,900

Protective Service Occupations

• First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $94,490
• Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $92,910
• Firefighter — $64,900
• Correctional Officer and Jailer — $58,930
• Security Guard — $36,680
• Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $29,770

Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

• Chef and Head Cook — $64,100
• First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,730
• Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $37,370
• Cooks, Restaurant — $36,490
• Dishwasher — $31,200
• Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,160
• Food Preparation Worker — $30,740
• Cooks, Fast Food — $30,010

Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations

• First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers — $47,850
• First-Line Supervisor of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers — $45,290
• Pest Control Worker — $38,330
• Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $37,680
• Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $34,860
• Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $31,670

Personal Care and Service Occupations

• First-Line Supervisor of Personal Service Workers — $47,160
• First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services — $46,650
• Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $45,690
• Animal Caretaker — $34,310
• Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists — $33,960
• Recreation Worker — $32,720
• Childcare Worker — $31,110
• Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $28,080

Sales and Related Occupations

• Sales Engineer — $133,280
• Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $99,270
• Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $86,740
• First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $77,870
• Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $64,940
• Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $63,280
• Advertising Sales Agent — $61,150
• Insurance Sales Agent — $59,510

Office and Administrative Support Occupations

• Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $80,230
• First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $73,070
• Postal Service Mail Carrier — $62,070
• Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $60,230
• Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk — $57,340
• Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — $56,390
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $56,360
• Financial Clerks, All Other — $54,080

Construction and Extraction Occupations

• First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $76,230
• Construction and Building Inspector — $69,020
• Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $61,250
• Electrician — $59,010
• Sheet Metal Worker — $56,240
• Structural Iron and Steel Worker — $53,600
• Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $51,370
• Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $48,770

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

• Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician — $94,920
• First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $78,740
• Telecommunications Line Installer and Repairer — $78,580
• Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer — $77,910
• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment — $73,530
• Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $63,380
• Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines — $62,860
• Maintenance Workers, Machinery — $60,770

Production Occupations

• Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers — $86,520
• Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $80,110
• First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $69,940
• Machinist — $59,830
• Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $51,630
• Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $49,350
• Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $47,990
• Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $47,230

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations

• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $212,810
• Flight Attendant — $61,100
• First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,260
• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,530
• Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $47,960
• Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,230
• Bus Drivers, School — $47,030
• Driver/Sales Worker — $44,440

Other cities in Texas

• Houston, TX
• Austin, TX
• San Antonio, TX
• El Paso, TX
• McAllen, TX
• Corpus Christi, TX
• Lubbock, TX
• Beaumont, TX
• Brownsville, TX
• Killeen, TX

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