Tax Preparer Salary in Houston, TX
Tax Preparers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $47,320 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,202 take-home, or $3,350 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median tax preparer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,498
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,934
- Medicare (1.45%)$686
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,202
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Tax Preparer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,070 | $16.86 | $30,359 | $2,530 |
| 25th percentile | $35,320 | $16.98 | $30,560 | $2,547 |
| Median (50th) | $47,320 | $22.75 | $40,202 | $3,350 |
| 75th percentile | $80,740 | $38.82 | $65,631 | $5,469 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,330 | $43.43 | $72,377 | $6,031 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,320 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 tax preparer's $40,202 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,760 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 Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for tax preparers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Houston, TX | $47,320 | $40,202 | $40,760 |
*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
- Austin, TX — $48,150
- Dallas, TX — $47,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make in Houston, TX?
The median tax preparer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $47,320 a year, or about $22.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,320 and $80,740.
What is a tax preparer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $47,320 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $40,202 a year ($3,350 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a tax preparer?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $54,920. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,760 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #22 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a tax preparer 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) — 39% of a median tax preparer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents — $102,190
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $101,660
- Financial Risk Specialist — $101,200
- Management Analyst — $101,120
- Project Management Specialist — $99,510
- Personal Financial Advisor — $98,930
- Budget Analyst — $98,330
- Accountant and Auditor — $85,090
- Labor Relations Specialist — $85,090
- Financial Examiner — $82,990
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $82,060
- Credit Analyst — $79,280