Database Administrator Salary in Austin, TX
Database Administrators in Austin, TX earn a median of $98,000/year, ranging from $75,460 (25th percentile) to $156,800 (90th percentile). After Texas state taxes (0%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 124), this is equivalent to $79,032 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Austin, TX
Notable employers in this market include IBM, Apple, and Oracle, all of which maintain significant Austin operations and regularly hire database administrators. The city's tech boom has created solid demand for DBAs, though you'll feel the cost-of-living crunch immediately - a 1BR apartment in desirable neighborhoods like East Austin or Mueller runs around $1,500 to $1,800 per month on a median salary that hovers near $98,000. Your commute depends heavily on where you land: tech corridors along I-35 and the Domain area in North Austin tend toward car-dependent sprawl, though downtown-adjacent roles often work better with local bus service. The real win is Texas's zero state income tax, which effectively boosts your take-home by 5 percent compared to coastal metros - a meaningful cushion as housing here climbs faster than salaries.
1Salary Distribution in Austin, TX
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Austin, TX Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX (current) | $98,000 | 124 | $79,032 |
| Dallas, TX | $92,000 | 112 | $82,143 |
| Houston, TX | $90,000 | 107 | $84,112 |
| El Paso, TX | $62,000 | 85 | $72,941 |
| San Francisco, CA | $122,000 | 186 | $65,591 |
| New York, NY | $118,000 | 187 | $63,102 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Database Administrator salary in Austin, TX?
The median Database Administrator salary in Austin, TX is $98,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $75,460 and the 90th percentile is $156,800.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a Database Administrator?
Austin, TX has a cost of living index of 124 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $98,000 Database Administrator salary in Austin, TX is equivalent to $79,032 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Austin, TX?
Austin, TX has a cost of living index of 124, meaning it is 24% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Texas is approximately 0%.
What is the Database Administrator salary range in Austin, TX?
In Austin, TX, Database Administrators earn between $75,460 (25th percentile) and $156,800 (90th percentile), with a median of $98,000 per year.
How many Database Administrator jobs are there in Austin, TX?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 30,400 Database Administrator positions in the Austin, TX metropolitan area.
What do Database Administrators earn in Austin, TX?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Database Administrators in Austin, TX earn a median annual wage of $98,000. The middle 50% earn between $75,460 and $125,440. The top 10% earn more than $156,800. There are approximately 30,400 Database Administrators employed in the Austin, TX metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 7%.
Is Austin, TX a good place for a Database Administrator?
Austin, TX has a cost of living index of 124 (US average = 100), making it 24% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Database Administrator in Austin, TX earning $98,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $79,032 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 Austin, TX?
Austin, TX's cost of living index is 124, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $98,000 in Austin, TXhas the same purchasing power as $79,032 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 Austin, TX with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Database Administrator in Austin, TX?
The headline median of $98,000 is only part of the picture. Austin, TX's cost of living index is 124 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 81¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $98,000 salary effectively purchases $79,032 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Austin, TX, housing typically runs 28–35% of gross income for median earners — elevated but still within traditional affordability ranges. For a $98,000 salary, that translates to roughly $31,360/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Texas has no state income tax, which is typically worth 4–8% of gross salary versus a high-tax state. For this role, that's roughly $5,880 per year in additional take-home. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $90,552. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: Dallas, TX ($92,000 median, COL 112); Houston, TX ($90,000 median, COL 107); El Paso, TX ($62,000 median, COL 85). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 7% year-over-year growth rate for Database Administrators in Austin, TX is a leading indicator of market health. Above-average hiring pace suggests strong negotiating leverage, frequent counter-offer opportunities, and a deep pipeline of open roles. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Database Administrators or the Texas state overview.
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.