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Cybersecurity Salary in Texas: Is It a Good Career?

Texas · 2026 BLS salary data

Cybersecurity pay in Texas

The median wage is $129,890/yr — 1% above the national median. Among U.S. states, Texasranks #15 of 48 states by median pay.

The numbers in Texas

Real BLS state-level figures for Cybersecurity.

Median salary
$129,890/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$101,380 – $160,020
National median
$129,180/yr
Employed in Texas
16,130

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Texas

Salary alone can mislead — Texas costs 3% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
97.1
Nominal median
$129,890
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $133,769
State income tax
None

Because Texas costs 3% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #8 of 48 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #15 on raw salary.

Texas levies no state income tax, so more of that pay stays in your pocket than in high-tax states.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

FAQ

How much do cybersecurity professionals make in Texas?

The median annual wage is $129,890 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $101,380 and $160,020. That's 1% above the national median.

Is Texas a good state for cybersecurity?

By raw pay, Texas ranks #15 of 48 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Texas costs 3% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $133,769. Because Texas costs 3% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #8 of 48 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #15 on raw salary. And with no state income tax, more of that pay stays in your pocket.

Are cybersecurity professionals in demand in Texas?

About 16,130 people work in this field in Texas (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +28.5% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Cybersecurity nationally — Texas pay is 1% above the national median. See the full Cybersecurity career guide →

The verdict

Yes — cybersecurity offers top-tier pay and one of the fastest projected growth rates of any field. The main caveat is that it's not truly entry-level: most roles want prior IT experience or certifications.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Top-tier, well-above-median pay
  • Among the fastest-growing fields (much faster than average)
  • Remote-friendly, high demand across every industry
  • Multiple paths in via certs, not just degrees
  • Intellectually engaging, constantly evolving

Cons

  • Not truly entry-level — expects IT foundation
  • High-stakes, on-call incident pressure
  • Constant learning to keep up with threats
  • Can be stressful during breaches
  • Cert and skills upkeep is ongoing

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • People with or willing to build IT fundamentals
  • Those who like continuous learning and problem-solving
  • Anyone wanting high pay and strong demand

✗ Probably not if…

  • People expecting a zero-experience entry point
  • Those who dislike on-call, high-pressure situations

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Cybersecurity is worth it — titles link to the original threads.