Physician Salary in Houston, TX

The headline median of $220,000 is only part of the picture. Houston, TX's cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 93¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $220,000 salary effectively purchases $205,607 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.

Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Houston, TX, housing costs fall closer to the national average of 25–30% of gross income, leaving more room in the budget for savings, transportation, and discretionary spending. For a $220,000 salary, that translates to roughly $61,600/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 $13,200 per year in additional take-home. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $203,280. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.

For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: Austin, TX ($225,000 median, COL 124); Dallas, TX ($222,000 median, COL 112); 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 2.5% year-over-year growth rate for Physicians in Houston, TX is a leading indicator of market health. A mature, slower-growth market — often higher-paid in absolute terms but with fewer open roles and slower lateral moves. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Physicians or the Texas state overview.