Computer Programmer Salary in Houston, TX
Computer Programmers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $96,440 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,676 take-home, or $6,390 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,387
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,979
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,398
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$76,676
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Computer Programmer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,180 | $27.01 | $47,321 | $3,943 |
| 25th percentile | $71,530 | $34.39 | $59,151 | $4,929 |
| Median (50th) | $96,440 | $46.37 | $76,676 | $6,390 |
| 75th percentile | $126,450 | $60.79 | $97,695 | $8,141 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $145,510 | $69.96 | $110,722 | $9,227 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $96,440 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer programmer's $76,676 take-home pay has the buying power of $77,741 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Programmer jobs are less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for computer programmers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #17 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, AR | $136,880 | $99,698 | $109,135 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $141,920 | $101,903 | $99,180 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $154,920 | $104,962 | $95,054 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $128,900 | $93,144 | $86,033 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $130,390 | $92,273 | $84,744 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $134,130 | $92,956 | $83,080 |
| 7 | Kansas City, MO | $101,830 | $76,619 | $82,793 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $118,000 | $85,342 | $81,416 |
| 17 | Houston, TX | $96,440 | $76,676 | $77,741 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
Computer Programmer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $102,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in Houston, TX?
The median computer programmer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $96,440 a year, or about $46.37 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $71,530 and $126,450.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $96,440 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $76,676 a year ($6,390 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $77,741 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #17 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Database Architect — $139,100
- Software Developer — $129,440
- Information Security Analyst — $126,370
- Computer Network Architect — $124,900
- Database Administrator — $116,030
- Computer Systems Analyst — $113,440
- Data Scientist — $106,750
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $105,440
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $101,430
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $98,690
- Web and Digital Interface Designer — $96,750
- Web Developer — $89,040