SalariesByCity
BLS SOC 25-1099 · Texas · Updated 2026

College Professor Salary in Houston, TX

College Professors in Houston, TX earn a median of $70,000/year, ranging from $53,900 (25th percentile) to $112,000 (90th percentile). After Texas state taxes (0%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 107), this is equivalent to $65,421 in purchasing power vs the US average.

Median Annual
$70,000
BLS median
Entry Level (P25)
$53,900
25th percentile
Senior (P75)
$89,600
75th percentile
Top Earners (P90)
$112,000
90th percentile

1Salary Distribution in Houston, TX

P25
P75
P25
$53,900
Median
$70,000
P75
$89,600
P90
$112,000

2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power

Gross Median Salary
$70,000
Before taxes
Est. Take-Home (After Tax)
$64,680
After 0% state + ~7.6% FICA
COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$60,449
vs US average (COL index: 107)

* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.

3

How Does Houston, TX Compare?

Nearby and similar metro areas
CityMedianCOL IndexCOL-Adjusted
Houston, TX (current)$70,000107$65,421
Austin, TX$77,000124$62,097
Dallas, TX$73,000112$65,179
El Paso, TX$48,00085$56,471
San Francisco, CA$96,000186$51,613
New York, NY$92,000187$49,198

4Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average College Professor salary in Houston, TX?

The median College Professor salary in Houston, TX is $70,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $53,900 and the 90th percentile is $112,000.

Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a College Professor?

Houston, TX has a cost of living index of 107 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $70,000 College Professor salary in Houston, TX is equivalent to $65,421 in purchasing power compared to the US average.

What is the cost of living adjustment for Houston, TX?

Houston, TX has a cost of living index of 107, meaning it is 7% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Texas is approximately 0%.

What is the College Professor salary range in Houston, TX?

In Houston, TX, College Professors earn between $53,900 (25th percentile) and $112,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $70,000 per year.

How many College Professor jobs are there in Houston, TX?

According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 42,000 College Professor positions in the Houston, TX metropolitan area.

What do College Professors earn in Houston, TX?

Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, College Professors in Houston, TX earn a median annual wage of $70,000. The middle 50% earn between $53,900 and $89,600. The top 10% earn more than $112,000. There are approximately 42,000 College Professors employed in the Houston, TX metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 4.3%.

Is Houston, TX a good place for a College Professor?

Houston, TX has a cost of living index of 107 (US average = 100), making it 7% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a College Professor in Houston, TX earning $70,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $65,421 relative to the US median. Texas has no state income tax, which is a significant financial advantage.

What is the cost of living adjustment for Houston, TX?

Houston, TX's cost of living index is 107, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $70,000 in Houston, TXhas the same purchasing power as $65,421 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.

Compare Houston, TX with Another City

See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.

Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.