Data Analyst Salary in Houston, TX: $71,381 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time data analyst in Houston, TX earns a median $71,381/year (≈ $34.31/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2051). Once you factor in Houston's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.6), that paycheck buys what $72,373 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.9% above the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the data analyst salary in Houston is projected at $71,381, which is notably lower than the national median of $80,394, reflecting a difference of approximately 11.21%. Salary ranges for this role reflect significant variability, with entry-level positions starting around $42,113 and top earners reaching up to $111,822. These figures, derived from projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, highlight a market that blends traditional industries with tech firms. In Houston, data analysts find themselves in an environment where FAANG companies, AI startups, and established industries compete for talent, often resulting in substantial differences in compensation driven by company type and specialization.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,113 | $20.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $54,363 | $26.14 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $71,381 | $34.31 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $94,477 | $45.43 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $111,822 | $53.77 |
Median Salary Position
11.21% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Houston
In Houston, TX, the data analyst salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $69,709 (2026 est.). At $71,381, the local median is 11.21% below the national median of $80,394.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Houston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Houston Data Analyst Pay Compares
Houston median: $71,381/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Houston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $67,404 | +5.90% more |
| National Average | $80,394 | -11.21% less |
Data Analysts in Houston, TX earn a median of $71,381 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.21% lower than the national median of $80,394 and 5.90% above the Texas state average of $67,404.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Houston has a cost of living 1.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Houston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 98.629 (below the national average of 100). A data analyst earning $71,381 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,373 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.39% boost.
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2021 BLS Actual
$106,110
2025 BLS Actual
$68,320
2026 Current Est.
$71,381
2021–2027 Growth
+-29.7%
Salary Trajectory for Data Analysts in Houston (2021–2027)
2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.48% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $106,110 | Actual |
| 2022 | $76,370 | Actual |
| 2023 | $97,490 | Actual |
| 2024 | $100,420 | Actual |
| 2025 | $68,320 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $71,381 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $74,579 | Projected |
Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the Houston metropolitan area, the median data analyst salary grew -35.6% from $106,110 (2021) to $68,320 (2025). At a 4.48% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $74,579 by 2027 — a total increase of $-31,531 (-29.72%) from 2021.
Note: Historical values (2021–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houston metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.48% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $42,113 – $54,363 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $54,363 – $71,381 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $71,381 – $94,477 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $94,477 – $111,822 |
DA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual data analyst compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Data Analyst Job Market in Houston
With around 4,060 data analysts employed in the Houston area, the job market exhibits solid strength. The local cost of living index sits at 98.629, which is slightly below the national average, allowing for a relatively better purchasing power for those in the field. Employers such as FAANG companies and leading AI startups typically offer the highest salaries, significantly influenced by equity stakes in their compensation packages. This discrepancy in pay can be attributed to factors like company tier, level within the organization, and the specialized skill set required for higher-paying roles. To maximize earning potential in Houston, candidates should focus on negotiating equity components, pursuing roles with tech giants, and considering positions in ML engineering, which generally command better compensation than traditional data analyst roles.
More salary data for Houston, TX:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Aisha Patel, MA, Certified Data Analyst
Career Analyst
Aisha has 10 years of experience in data analysis. She specializes in business intelligence and works at a tech consulting firm.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $68,320 for data analystsin the Houston metropolitan area. A 4.48% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 5-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.48%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for data analysts (SOC 15-2051).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Patel, MA, Certified Data Analyst, a licensed data analyst with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov