HR Manager Salary: Austin, TX vs Denver, CO
BLS reports this occupation as "Human Resources Managers" (11-3121); every figure on this page is for that BLS occupation.
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for HR Managers in Austin, TX and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $140,670 | $170,940▲ | -$30,270 |
| 25th Percentile | $110,200 | $137,500▲ | -$27,300 |
| 75th Percentile | $192,420 | $210,620▲ | -$18,200 |
| 90th Percentile | $254,960 | $277,530▲ | -$22,570 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 98.1 | 105.8 | -7.7 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $143,444 | $161,596▲ | -$18,152 |
| Total Employment | 2,730 | 2,540 | +190 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Denver, CO pays $30,270 more (median: $140,670 vs $170,940). BEA's regional price parity is 98.1 in Austin, TX and 105.8 in Denver, CO (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $143,444 and $161,596, so Denver, CO comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $30,270 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $143,444 for Austin and $161,596 for Denver, a difference of $18,152.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 2,730 HR Manager jobs in the Austin area and 2,540 in the Denver area. For broader context, see our Texas overview and the full HR Manager city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HR Manager salary higher in Austin, TX or Denver, CO?
Denver, CO has the higher median wage for HR Managers ($170,940 per year, against $140,670 in Austin, TX; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $143,444 in Austin, TX and $161,596 in Denver, CO.
How do prices compare between Austin, TX and Denver, CO?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 98.1 for the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area and 105.8 for the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 1.9% below the national level for Austin, TX and 5.8% above the national level for Denver, CO.
Which city pays HR Managers more once local prices are counted?
Denver, CO: at national-average prices its median HR Manager wage is $161,596, against $143,444 for Austin, TX. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.