Average Accountant Salary in Houston, TX

The average Accountant in Houston, TX earns $95,520 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$95520
Median Salary
$81830
vs. National
5.2% above
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$96848

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Houston’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 98.629, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Accountants actually earn in Houston

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $56370
25th $65270
Median $81830
75th $105800
90th (top) $143500

27410 Accountants employed in the Houston metro.

Can a Accountant afford a home in Houston?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Houston home: $253400.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$56370$22648389%
Median$81830$328776Yes
Top (90th)$143500$576553Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Accountant in Houston

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and TX state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Houston at a glance

Population2300419
Median household income$62894
Median home value$253400
Median rent$1313/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)98.629
Bachelor’s degree or higher21.3%
Poverty rate19.4%

In Houston, TX, Accountants earn a median of $81,830 a year — about 10% below the U.S. median of $90,780. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #14.

What that pay is worth in Houston

Local prices run 99 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $95,520 salary is about break-even with the national average ($96,848 adjusted).

Can Accountants afford a home in Houston?

A typical Houston home runs about $253,400 — 2.7 times the average Accountant salary, very affordable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,313/mo takes roughly 16% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Accountant pay ladder in Houston

Entry-level (10th percentile) Accountants earn about $56,370; the top 10% reach $143,500 — a $87,130 spread, wide for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Accountant job market in Houston

Houston employs roughly 27,410 Accountants. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Houston with other cities

See the full Accountant salary by city ranking to weigh Houston against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Accountants make in Houston?

The average Accountant in Houston, TX earns about $95,520 per year, 5.2% above the national average of $90,780.

What is the take-home pay for Accountants in Houston after taxes?

After federal and TX taxes, this $95,520 salary is worth about $76,028 a year - roughly $6,335 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 20%.

What do the highest-paid Accountants earn in Houston?

The top 10% of Accountants in Houston earn about $143,500 a year, versus about $56,370 for the bottom 10%.

Can Accountants afford a home in Houston?

A typical Houston home runs about $253,400 - roughly 2.7x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

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