Network Engineer Salary in Austin, TX
Network Engineers in Austin, TX earn a median of $95,000/year, ranging from $73,150 (25th percentile) to $152,000 (90th percentile). After Texas state taxes (0%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 124), this is equivalent to $76,613 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Austin, TX
Notable employers in this market include Apple, Oracle, and Tesla, all of which maintain significant engineering operations here and actively hire network engineers. The no state income tax environment in Texas means your take-home stretches further than the nominal salary suggests, which matters when you're looking at neighborhoods like East Austin or South Lamar where a two-bedroom runs around $1,600 to $1,800 monthly. The sprawl is real though - I-35 and MoPac are perpetual bottlenecks, and most network shops are scattered across tech corridors from the Domain in North Austin to South Congress, so plan for a 25- to 40-minute commute depending on where your office lands. The city's explosive growth and heavy cloud-infrastructure focus mean you'll see constant infrastructure modernization projects and security work, which keeps the role technically demanding and keeps salaries competitive even as the overall cost of living climbs.
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) | $95,000 | 124 | $76,613 |
| Dallas, TX | $90,000 | 112 | $80,357 |
| Houston, TX | $87,000 | 107 | $81,308 |
| El Paso, TX | $60,000 | 85 | $70,588 |
| San Francisco, CA | $119,000 | 186 | $63,978 |
| New York, NY | $114,000 | 187 | $60,963 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Network Engineer salary in Austin, TX?
The median Network Engineer salary in Austin, TX is $95,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $73,150 and the 90th percentile is $152,000.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a Network Engineer?
Austin, TX has a cost of living index of 124 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $95,000 Network Engineer salary in Austin, TX is equivalent to $76,613 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 Network Engineer salary range in Austin, TX?
In Austin, TX, Network Engineers earn between $73,150 (25th percentile) and $152,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $95,000 per year.
How many Network Engineer jobs are there in Austin, TX?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 57,000 Network Engineer positions in the Austin, TX metropolitan area.
What do Network Engineers earn in Austin, TX?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Network Engineers in Austin, TX earn a median annual wage of $95,000. The middle 50% earn between $73,150 and $121,600. The top 10% earn more than $152,000. There are approximately 57,000 Network Engineers employed in the Austin, TX metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 7%.
Is Austin, TX a good place for a Network Engineer?
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 Network Engineer in Austin, TX earning $95,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $76,613 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 $95,000 in Austin, TXhas the same purchasing power as $76,613 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 Network Engineer in Austin, TX?
The headline median of $95,000 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 $95,000 salary effectively purchases $76,613 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 $95,000 salary, that translates to roughly $30,400/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 $5,700 per year in additional take-home. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $87,780. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: Dallas, TX ($90,000 median, COL 112); Houston, TX ($87,000 median, COL 107); El Paso, TX ($60,000 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 Network Engineers 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 Network Engineers 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.