Austin is the fastest-growing H1B tech market in the US, with filings up 195% since FY2020 to 12,400 in FY2024. DOL LCA data shows a median of $162,000 — 35% above the national median. Texas has no state income tax and a 28% cost-of-living advantage over San Francisco, making Austin's real purchasing power competitive with higher-wage cities.
Key fact: Texas has no state income tax and Austin's cost of living is 28% lower than San Francisco. An Austin SWE earning $162K has greater purchasing power than a San Francisco SWE earning $198K after accounting for taxes and housing costs.
| Role | Median |
|---|---|
| SWE L3 | $138,000 |
| Senior SWE L4 | $175,000 |
| Staff SWE L5 | $215,000 |
| ML Engineer L4 | $182,000 |
| SWE Manager | $205,000 |
Source: DOL LCA disclosures, FY2024.
| Employer | Median Wage |
|---|---|
| Tesla Austin | $145,000 |
| Oracle | $148,000 |
| Dell Technologies | $132,000 |
| Apple Austin | $162,000 |
| IBM | $128,000 |
| Indeed | $155,000 |