Tax Preparer Salary in Austin, TX
Tax Preparers in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median $48,150 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,869 take-home, or $3,406 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median tax preparer salary in Austin, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,598
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,985
- Medicare (1.45%)$698
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,869
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Tax Preparer pay by experience in Austin, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,110 | $17.36 | $31,194 | $2,600 |
| 25th percentile | $37,850 | $18.20 | $32,592 | $2,716 |
| Median (50th) | $48,150 | $23.15 | $40,869 | $3,406 |
| 75th percentile | $75,510 | $36.30 | $61,951 | $5,163 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,880 | $44.65 | $74,171 | $6,181 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,150 buys in Austin, TX
Prices in Austin, TX are 1.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.20× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median tax preparer's $40,869 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,675 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tax Preparer jobs are less concentrated in Austin, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for tax preparers, adjusted for cost of living
Austin, TX ranks #20 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $78,920 | $61,578 | $66,540 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $81,180 | $61,565 | $55,753 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $84,240 | $63,393 | $54,832 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $66,920 | $53,863 | $53,399 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $60,170 | $50,527 | $50,418 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $71,300 | $55,736 | $49,516 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $65,150 | $52,370 | $49,507 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $70,170 | $54,881 | $49,050 |
| 20 | Austin, TX | $48,150 | $40,869 | $41,675 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
Tax Preparer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Houston, TX — $47,320
- Dallas, TX — $47,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make in Austin, TX?
The median tax preparer salary in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $48,150 a year, or about $23.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,850 and $75,510.
What is a tax preparer’s take-home pay in Austin, TX?
On the median $48,150 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $40,869 a year ($3,406 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a tax preparer?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $54,920. Local prices are 1.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,675 would in a typical U.S. city. Austin, TX ranks #20 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a tax preparer afford rent in Austin, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Austin, TX is $1,562 a month ($1,852 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median tax preparer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Austin, TX
- Management Analyst — $106,600
- Project Management Specialist — $102,390
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $101,530
- Personal Financial Advisor — $95,990
- Accountant and Auditor — $83,120
- Budget Analyst — $81,720
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $80,460
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $79,490
- Cost Estimator — $78,650
- Logistician — $78,460
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $77,150
- Insurance Underwriter — $75,910