Physician Salary in Austin, TX
Physicians in Austin, TX earn a median of $225,000/year, ranging from $168,000 (25th percentile) to $368,000 (90th percentile). After Texas state taxes (0%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 124), this is equivalent to $181,452 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Austin, TX
Notable employers in this market include Dell, Apple, and the University of Texas at Austin, which anchor major health systems and urgent-care networks across the metro. A two-bedroom in East Austin runs around $1,800 to $2,000 monthly, though that's climbing steadily as the city expands. Most physicians here drive - I-35 and MoPac handle the main flows, though traffic can snarl badly during rush hours, and public transit coverage remains spotty outside downtown. The real advantage is Texas has zero state income tax, which meaningfully stretches a physician's take-home compared to coastal metros at similar salaries. The weather is hot and humid half the year, so summer call schedules feel longer, but the consistent patient volume and growing population keep practices and hospital systems busy year-round.
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) | $225,000 | 124 | $181,452 |
| Dallas, TX | $222,000 | 112 | $198,214 |
| Houston, TX | $220,000 | 107 | $205,607 |
| El Paso, TX | $188,000 | 85 | $221,176 |
| San Francisco, CA | $260,000 | 186 | $139,785 |
| New York, NY | $250,000 | 187 | $133,690 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Physician salary in Austin, TX?
The median Physician salary in Austin, TX is $225,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $168,000 and the 90th percentile is $368,000.
Is Austin, TX a good place to work as a Physician?
Austin, TX has a cost of living index of 124 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $225,000 Physician salary in Austin, TX is equivalent to $181,452 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 Physician salary range in Austin, TX?
In Austin, TX, Physicians earn between $168,000 (25th percentile) and $368,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $225,000 per year.
How many Physician jobs are there in Austin, TX?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 6,000 Physician positions in the Austin, TX metropolitan area.
What do Physicians earn in Austin, TX?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Physicians in Austin, TX earn a median annual wage of $225,000. The middle 50% earn between $168,000 and $295,000. The top 10% earn more than $368,000. There are approximately 6,000 Physicians employed in the Austin, TX metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 3%.
Is Austin, TX a good place for a Physician?
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 Physician in Austin, TX earning $225,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $181,452 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 $225,000 in Austin, TXhas the same purchasing power as $181,452 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 Physician in Austin, TX?
The headline median of $225,000 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 $225,000 salary effectively purchases $181,452 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 $225,000 salary, that translates to roughly $72,000/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 $13,500 per year in additional take-home. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $207,900. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: Dallas, TX ($222,000 median, COL 112); Houston, TX ($220,000 median, COL 107); El Paso, TX ($188,000 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 3% year-over-year growth rate for Physicians in Austin, TX is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Physicians 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.