Texas

Living wage in Austin, Texas

Most of Austin is in Travis County, where a full-time job needs to pay at least $47.66 an hour before taxes to take home four times the typical studio rent.

Pay needed, before taxes$47.66/hrTravis County standard
At Austin's middle rent$45.70/hrstudio rent $1,470 a month
Check a job's pay hereAll the numbers for Travis County

Across the 64 ZIP codes in Austin with HUD rent figures, studio rents run from $1,330 to $2,170 a month. At the middle rent, $1,470, a full-time job would need to pay $45.70 an hour before taxes.

Parts of Austin are also in Williamson County, Hays County.

ZIP codes in Austin

What the standard would be at each ZIP code's own studio rent. The calculator and the official standard use the county figure.

ZIPCountyStudio rentPay needed
78701Travis County$2,170/mo$70.79/hr
78702Travis County$1,940/mo$62.40/hr
78703Travis County$1,940/mo$62.40/hr
78704Travis County$1,630/mo$51.39/hr
78705Travis County$1,490/mo$46.41/hr
78708Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78709Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78711Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78712Travis County$1,630/mo$51.39/hr
78714Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78715Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78716Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78717Williamson County$1,580/mo$49.61/hr
78718Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78719Travis County$1,380/mo$42.50/hr
78720Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78721Travis County$1,440/mo$44.64/hr
78722Travis County$1,620/mo$51.03/hr
78723Travis County$1,390/mo$42.86/hr
78724Travis County$1,340/mo$41.08/hr
78725Travis County$1,960/mo$63.12/hr
78726Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78727Travis County$1,660/mo$52.45/hr
78728Travis County$1,390/mo$42.86/hr
78729Williamson County$1,460/mo$45.35/hr
78730Travis County$1,510/mo$47.12/hr
78731Travis County$1,420/mo$43.92/hr
78732Travis County$1,580/mo$49.61/hr
78733Travis County$2,170/mo$70.79/hr
78734Travis County$1,680/mo$53.16/hr
78735Travis County$1,700/mo$53.87/hr
78736Travis County$1,590/mo$49.97/hr
78737Hays County$1,890/mo$60.63/hr
78738Travis County$1,690/mo$53.52/hr
78739Travis County$2,170/mo$70.79/hr
78741Travis County$1,430/mo$44.28/hr
78742Travis County$1,330/mo$40.73/hr
78744Travis County$1,350/mo$41.44/hr
78745Travis County$1,510/mo$47.12/hr
78746Travis County$1,780/mo$56.72/hr
78747Travis County$1,560/mo$48.90/hr
78748Travis County$1,520/mo$47.48/hr
78749Travis County$1,640/mo$51.74/hr
78750Travis County$1,530/mo$47.83/hr
78751Travis County$1,750/mo$55.65/hr
78752Travis County$1,330/mo$40.73/hr
78753Travis County$1,370/mo$42.15/hr
78754Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78755Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78756Travis County$1,330/mo$40.73/hr
78757Travis County$1,430/mo$44.28/hr
78758Travis County$1,480/mo$46.06/hr
78759Travis County$1,600/mo$50.32/hr
78760Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78761Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78762Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78763Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78764Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78765Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78766Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78767Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78768Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78783Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr
78799Travis County$1,470/mo$45.70/hr

Questions

How much do you need to make to live in Austin, Texas?

Under the Four Times Rent standard, a full-time job in Austin needs to pay at least $47.66 an hour before taxes, about $99,125 a year. That is the figure for Travis County, where the typical studio rent is $1,525 a month.

Does it vary by neighborhood?

Yes. Across the 64 ZIP codes in Austin with HUD rent figures, studio rents run from $1,330 to $2,170 a month. At the middle rent of $1,470, the pay needed would be $45.70 an hour.

How does that compare with the minimum wage?

The minimum wage in Travis County is $7.25 an hour. The Four Times Rent standard there is 6.6 times that.

The Four Times Rent standard: a month of full-time work (160 hours) should take home at least four times the typical rent on a studio apartment in the county where the work is done. Rents: HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents. Taxes: 2026 federal and state income taxes plus Social Security and Medicare, for a single filer. Why four times rent? · Method and data downloads