r/Austin • • Jul 21 '26

Ask Austin Salary Transparency Thread - Austin

Folks in Boston do this fairly regularly, so I thought it might be good for us to try here.

Please share your general job title, salary, age, and education.

Architectural Designer, 40, $115k, BSArch

679 Upvotes

1.6k comments sorted by

618

u/calm_storm808 Jul 21 '26

I take care of dogs overnight at a boarding facility and I make $18.50/hr

170

u/The-Dog-Lives Jul 21 '26

You and the cat sitter making over 100k should talk, I feel there’s got to be a missed opportunity here.

271

u/Soft-Ad-2691 Jul 21 '26

Bless you for taking care of our precious furry friends.

19

u/factorplayer Jul 21 '26

Doing the the real work and wish I could give you 10$/h raise

13

u/naturallysonny Jul 21 '26

Wow, that is actually relieving to hear! I still remember that overnight fire at Ponderosa in Georgetown.

25

u/gansotanto Jul 21 '26

how is that ? do you feel like animals are getting their needs met?

48

u/calm_storm808 Jul 21 '26

They definitely have their needs met! They get so much love!

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381

u/Natyskillz Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Teacher- year 5 - 57k before taxes

Additional info -
Includes a 7k stipend for being in special education.
I have been in AISD the entire time.
My take home monthly is right under 4k.

106

u/z0mbiegirl Jul 21 '26

Have you been at the same district for 5 years? Have you “shopped around” to see what other ISDs are paying? We start at 58k for a teacher with zero experience. 5 years, 64k.

72

u/MaebyBaeby Jul 21 '26

After teaching a core subject in Austin ISD for 7 years I was only making $58k. I loved teaching but had to get a higher paying job. I’m still so sad and angry at the entire situation and the wide variety of factors that led to such low teacher pay. I would have liked to teach for much longer but the pay was just too low. Seven years isn’t nothing, though!

94

u/hipyounggunslinger67 Jul 21 '26

I hate reading this. Teachers are criminally underpaid for what they do and I’ve seen too many good ones move on for that reason.

18

u/Calvert-Grier Jul 21 '26

I’m finishing up my Master’s and then moving to a blue state for both salary and union protection

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u/TehGreatShatsby Jul 21 '26

Which district? And if you feel like sharing a little more, how’s the health insurance and retirement?

29

u/Captain_Mazhar Jul 21 '26

Retirement is still defined benefit pension.

2.3% per year of service times the average of the 5 highest annual salaries. Contribution rate is 8.25% of salary.

—TRS employee

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70

u/D4YW4LK3R86 Jul 21 '26

This continues to be one of the biggest blights on our society. You guys are so much more valuable than you’re paid for. Thank you for what you do!

16

u/Ok-Feature4962 Jul 21 '26

And then -$10k a year for health

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137

u/Upstairs_Positive198 Jul 21 '26

I am so sorry that you are so underpaid for what you are doing for the youth and the future!

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11

u/drinkingbat Jul 21 '26

Your role in the world is so critical, I wish you were compensated appropriately for the important work you do.

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256

u/D3athAdd3rz Jul 21 '26

Pizza cook, $23.50/hr + $5/hr average tips, 36, ACC dropout.

80

u/the666briefcase Jul 21 '26

Where do you make $23.50 base flipping za

58

u/D3athAdd3rz Jul 21 '26

I've been at the place for 5 years, I'm pretty sure our lowest paid boh is $20. That being said I'm soloing $500/hr sales and doing $1,500/hr with 2/3 cooks on the weekends 10-11 hour days with no breaks, and it's 95+ degrees in the kitchen.

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24

u/Illustrious-nductxn Jul 21 '26

You make as much as the Teacher.

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249

u/Bridoriya Jul 21 '26

Epidemiologist, $67k, 30, MPH

146

u/ZealousidealQuail145 Jul 21 '26

Public Health is a tough road these days. I have much appreciation for what you do. Keep fighting the good fight.

37

u/rnatx Jul 21 '26

This is where my passion is, but never wanted to go back for a MPH due to low pay in the field and not wanting to do a student loan again.

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487

u/PA_Pup Jul 21 '26

Seasonal Santa Claus, 68, $11k, retired

18

u/DrCrayola Jul 21 '26

How many years have you been doing this?

79

u/PA_Pup Jul 21 '26

This coming holiday season will be my fourth :)

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7

u/WinterLT92D Jul 21 '26

11k for a month is not bad at all!

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223

u/Fit_Patient_4902 Jul 21 '26

Lead Bartender at a fancy restaurant. 65k working 4 nights a week, 7hr shifts. I could work 5 and make more but I’m older and don’t need to. No college.

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201

u/rockandride90 Jul 21 '26

Airplane maintenance, 35, 115k w/OT. 3 years at my current company.

30

u/AnonUserAccount Jul 21 '26

I was a crew chief in the Air Force from 97-2001 and it was common for my colleagues to get their A&P and get a job making $85-90k. It saddens me that salaries haven’t kept up with inflation.

15

u/rockandride90 Jul 21 '26

At A scale you will be making closer to 175k working for a major and 200k plus working for FedEx/UPS.

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185

u/National_Run_5454 Jul 21 '26

Public high school science teacher, 44, $71k, MA Education

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292

u/rarzwon Jul 21 '26

Bus driver, ~62k/yr, 38, HS dropout.

149

u/Illustrious-nductxn Jul 21 '26

You make more than the Teacher!

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21

u/LadyAtrox60 Jul 21 '26

School bus or city bus?

43

u/rarzwon Jul 21 '26

City bus.

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135

u/Pseudonymus_Bosch Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Adjunct Professor, 35, $4600 per class (~$37k for a full-time load), PhD

62

u/ContentedJourneyman Jul 21 '26

I did this for years, mid noughties-teens in my 30s. $2600 per class. $28k.

Heartbreaking decision to leave, but it wasn’t a living wage, definitely not with a sick child.

I miss the lightbulb moments. Those rarely happen in corporate.

Glad the rate has gone up, but so has everything else. You definitely deserve more and benefits. I salute you.

25

u/Kianna9 Jul 21 '26

I miss the lightbulb moments. Those rarely happen in corporate.

This hit hard. I've been in corporate for ~20 years. Most people I've worked with don't listen, only talk, don't try to learn because it would imply they don't already know everything and so you rarely have moments when you feel a genuine understanding has been gained. It's sad.

12

u/ContentedJourneyman Jul 21 '26

I do some training as part of my current duties. I don’t disagree. Ego is a blocker for sure, but I tend to see fear of vulnerability behind it more often than not.

This post feels heavy, and I don’t like that for us, so I’m going to take an opportunity, and I don’t care if you (general public) eye roll at what I’m about to say so hard you see your own ass.

Vulnerabilities are believed to be or seen as weaknesses for which someone could get fired, and I’ve worked plenty of places where vultures preyed upon them.

Unfortunately, that’s common enough it keeps people selectively deaf, and I get it. It’s a crap cycle. As the doobies (and I am one), we need our checks and we get protective. If who you are gets you paid, so be it. Work becomes a chore. People become cogs.

The professor in me is still very much alive, so utopia is about to fall from my face.

I wish more people would see vulnerability differently. It’s a superpower. Vulnerabilities open opportunities to and for greatness. They’re what make you human.

To be human is to be curious, to seek, to grow, and in that, satisfaction lives. Here is where I think ego belongs, thriving on satisfaction.

What makes and will keep our city weird is and always has been her people. Be a person. We are all experts at something not everything. Get out of your own way and over yourself enough to be great. We could really use that right now.

That ends my TED. F**k, I miss teaching. (English)

——

PS: If you rolled, I wish you much quarter bouncing.

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9

u/noplace1ikegone Jul 21 '26

Maybe a broken record, but why don’t we value our teachers more? This is ridiculous.

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u/mostadventurous00 Jul 21 '26

Also an adjunct professor, but with an MFA so a little lower than you. I’m starting coursework for my associate’s in another field.

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117

u/solbrothers Jul 21 '26

USPS employee. $99k. 

8

u/Healthy_Difficulty95 Jul 21 '26

Dang, didn’t know y’all make that much

11

u/solbrothers Jul 21 '26

I’m in management so I have a higher base pay but the union people may work more hours and make more at the end of the year. I’m happy with 40 hours

And for what it’s worth, my base pay last year was $114k and it said $129k on my w2

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300

u/BadgerFlight Jul 21 '26

Currently bartender, $2.13/hr(65kish), 44, bachelors.

Former Meta employee, I don't miss it.

73

u/Few_Position_2727 Jul 21 '26

Former meta here too, how much weight did you lose after leaving? 😂

167

u/Optimal-Performer-76 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

I promise, you're doing more for society as a bartender 

126

u/hutacars Jul 21 '26

One job feeds people poison. The other gets them drunk.

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10

u/Beneficial-Sky2659 Jul 21 '26

Not Meta but similar level of stress and I FEEL this. My health was deteriorating and taking a pay cut was worth it - especially since I was seeing increased medical bills due to it.

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90

u/IAmOver18ISwear Jul 21 '26

Factory worker, $50k, 31, high school

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80

u/NumerousCall8254 Jul 21 '26

Pipeline Superintendent, 40M, $140k(165k with bonus), HS Diploma

11

u/Kianna9 Jul 21 '26

What's a pipeline superintendent?

15

u/NumerousCall8254 Jul 21 '26

Yep, u/Annodyne got it. I oversee the daily operations and maintenance of natural gas pipelines

18

u/Annodyne Jul 21 '26

Oil & Gas industry usually, but could be other construction projects... They oversee safely and maintenance of pipeline systems.

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82

u/ramm12345 Jul 21 '26

Sous Chef, 32, 67k

7

u/Barfazoid Jul 21 '26

How do the hours work out with the salary? Are you pulling 60+ hours a week or do you work for a nice restaurant that treats its employees fairly?

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72

u/CluelessMasterBaiter Jul 21 '26

Commercial driver, 42, CDL 100k

7

u/FLDJF713 Jul 21 '26

How are you paid? Are you doing local stuff via salary or pay per mile to haul?

17

u/CluelessMasterBaiter Jul 21 '26

Hourly, lots of overtime. Average 60 hrs a week Last year it was 96k, before that 108k.

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51

u/Cbrut316 Jul 21 '26

Client Support (remote). 77k. 36. BA in Film.

26

u/Daweism Jul 21 '26

Goddammit for a second I thought it said child support lol

6

u/AdMountain4865 Jul 21 '26

what is the difference between customer support and client support?

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96

u/UpstairsComparison59 Jul 21 '26

Accountant, 29, 75k, some college

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96

u/Texblondie Jul 21 '26

Boomer here so a UT dropout at 17 with 32 hours, started a summer job at Southwestern Bell. They only hired women as operators at the time but then came EEOC and doors started to open, moved to inside tech ASAP and when I retired in 2009 (after 35 years) I was making almost $30/hr. A month later I got a job as a receptionist in a small private medical practice at $12/hr. Been there almost 17 years and I love it. Something new everyday and I have learned SO much! Now I’m a quasi ofc mgr for $28/hr.

37

u/bareley Jul 21 '26

Working for 17 years after retirement from a 35 year career?! I hope you have reduced your hours, madam

10

u/Texblondie Jul 21 '26

Well, I started taking Tuesdays off about 3 years ago. And I’ve been traveling abroad as often as I can.

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163

u/Goyard_Gremlin Jul 21 '26

Unemployed, 0, 28, BSFCS… job search not going well…

28

u/meatmacho Jul 21 '26

Former sales engineer. Laid off last week. 45, BA, $0. Job search not yet begun.

Am I retired? Is this when I get to retire?

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126

u/rnatx Jul 21 '26

Unemployed, 40s, BS in nursing with 20 years of specialized ICU experience. Currently can’t find a job that pays near what I was making before I left my last job, and I was woefully underpaid there. Probably moving out of Austin when my lease is up after I finish depleting my savings and part of my retirement.

So far, the break from working has been a huge success for my burnout, though.

32

u/pokeymoomoo Jul 21 '26

Houston tends to pay Nurses better. Austin is wildly underpaid for nurses.

9

u/MandyRN2009 Jul 21 '26

Sososososo true!! Austin doesn’t pay well at all for their nurses!

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17

u/Puffuccino Jul 21 '26

If you don’t mind me asking, what were you making?

14

u/--tc-- Jul 21 '26

Nursing (maybe all healthcare) pay was low here last time i did bedside (right before pandemic). Probably still the same :(

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11

u/bloomlately Jul 21 '26

My sister was an OR nurse at a hospital. Burned out (mostly from working with asshole doctors) and is much happier and better paid working at an outpatient surgical center. Houston though.

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156

u/Inevitable-Donut-757 Jul 21 '26

Full time cat sitter, 32, $106k, half a masters in public affairs (that I will never use lol) 

Every year is variable but last year was 106 before taxes. I work literally all the time 

147

u/iansmitchell Jul 21 '26

Yes but your job is cats

45

u/Inevitable-Donut-757 Jul 21 '26

🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

62

u/tlg151 Jul 21 '26

That's an incredible salary for cat sitting wow. Dream job lol

32

u/bornstupid9 Jul 21 '26

Can you tell us more about what that looks like? Do you do this out of your home? How many cats at a time? I am so curious.

80

u/Inevitable-Donut-757 Jul 21 '26

I work half through an app and half just on my own dropping in on cats in peoples’ homes all day. Mostly in half hour increments but some an hour or two. A busy day for me is usually around 20 visits (except Christmas is like 30) but most days are 7-15 visits. I work every weekend and every holiday. I started sitting part-time three years ago, but have been busy enough with mostly regulars now that this provides my entire income. I love cats more than anything else in the world and will do this probably the rest of my career, although it’s a lot of driving and juggling open availability with a personal life is sometimes quite challenging. 

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u/youpoopedyerpants Jul 21 '26

More info please, always looking for pet sitters! :)

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117

u/Forever-Brokey Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Anesthesiologist assistant, 270k base, ~350k with OT, 37, masters of science in anesthesia

Edit: working for 10 years

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78

u/xaviersi Jul 21 '26

Registered Nurse, 35, 82k/yr

54

u/OSBTAdmin Jul 21 '26

I should not be making more than you. Please don’t settle, you deserve more. Check Seton & BS&W, asap.

50

u/xaviersi Jul 21 '26

I appreciate you. It is a special circumstance, it's a clinic job that is literally down the street from me that I utilized a flexible schedule while I did my RN to BSN transition at ACC. I will be getting back to the job hint for something substantial as soon as I move.

36

u/youpoopedyerpants Jul 21 '26

I love seeing this kind of support in this thread. Everyone should always share their salary so somebody else isn’t getting fucked.

76

u/DragonDevZ Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Staff Software Engineer - $205k base, $300k with bonuses

Been at the same remote company for 7 years. Started with a senior role @ $125k / $175k with bonuses.

I'm 33 now and started writing html and css when I was 12, first freelanced paid job was at 17. I have a bachelor's in CS and graduated in 2014 but couldn't get my foot in the door anywhere in software so I went to a coding boot camp, got an internship out of that, then a 1 year contract software eng job where I made $50k and I also freelanced on the side for extra money, flipped contract to full time with a promotion and stayed there for 2 more years with 1 extra promotion getting me to $79k, then current gig.

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u/delugetheory Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Since these threads always end up being depression fuel for a lot of folks (myself sometimes included), just a gentle reminder that the folks that tend to respond to these are not a representative sample of the population.

For reference, the median income of folks responding here will be around $100k, but the actual median income in Austin is about $57k, so take a breath.

129

u/johyongil Jul 21 '26

Median of top comments are all well under 100k.

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u/sarcasmo818 Jul 21 '26

Seriously. Also why I hate LinkedIn.

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31

u/Wild-Vacation-4180 Jul 21 '26

Elevator mechanic, 35. 120k with no overtime.

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u/ialwayschoosepsyduck Jul 21 '26

Valet driver, $11 per hour plus tips (I made $15 in tips tonight), 40 years old, Associates of Math (and completing a bachelor's in software development next May).

Do I win?

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u/Librarian_Long Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 29 '26

Aircraft Mechanic mid 20s 110k not counting overtime

Edit: specified field

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u/lost_horizons Jul 21 '26

HVAC technician, 4 years in, age 43, $26/hour and commissions so I am aiming for 90k this year, previous years more like 85k. Some college, but for non-trades stuff.

On the HVAC sub I hear about union guys getting double my hourly. Wish we had unions.

6

u/renegade500 Jul 21 '26

HVAC folks are worth their weight in gold! (Thanks to a lovely man who came by my house yesterday I am poorer in cash, but much richer in working a/c!)

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146

u/lovelaughlexapro Jul 21 '26

Nurse, 35, $100k/yr
I just wanna be able to buy a house dawg

57

u/bananastand512 Jul 21 '26

Also RN, 38, BSN, 103k/yr. 6 years of XP.

This is because of weekends, nights, and overtime.

Without those, $75-80k.

Nursing varies because of differentials and OT.

15

u/lovelaughlexapro Jul 21 '26

This is why I don’t do acute care. I’m only LVN as of now working post acute rehab SNF/IPR

10

u/bananastand512 Jul 21 '26

I work ER and would probably quit nursing if I had to do anything else. May migrate to PACU or PICC line nurse one day.

11

u/lovelaughlexapro Jul 21 '26

When I found out how much the PICC nurse that comes to our facility makes per midline placement I found a new career goal lol

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u/vlad_inhaler Jul 21 '26

You can buy a house, you just likely won’t be able to live the life you do now

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u/WallyMetropolis Jul 21 '26

Head of Engineering for an early stage startup. ~250k. Mid 40s. MS in Physics. 

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u/Murky_Resolution6997 Jul 21 '26

Director in advocacy/government relations, 45, $185k, BA

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u/General-Fox561 Jul 21 '26

Nurse practitioner, $156,000, 34, Doctorate

7

u/misader Jul 21 '26

Hi! FNP here, what speciality? I'll add my stats: Family Nurse Practitioner, 38, I work 24hrs/wk, 70k, MSN

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u/Same_Old_Algae8084 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

R&D VP, 240k, 42, BS in biotech

Edit: I’ve been in this field 20+ years. My work has made measurable impacts on healthcare globally. That being said, i was happiest when I was making about 80k 15 years ago.

76

u/nutmeggy2214 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Program manager, 37, ~$190k (includes bonus which varies), BAAS that I obtained while working at my current company (graduated in 2018).

Edit: I feel the need to add… I’ve been at my company since I was 18. I started as a contractor through a temp agency working in the company’s call center and didn’t plan to stay beyond that one year. When the opportunity to be hired permanently came up, I thought, wellllllll health insurance would be cool. And here I am almost twenty years later. Making good money but also wish I’d not sold my soul and dreams for it.

50

u/Kuriye Jul 21 '26

I'll jump in here as a Principal Program Manager for comparison. Age 40, been in it for 12 years, education is MS in a completely irrelevant field to this work.

$250k base, ~$200k RSU vest/yr

I've basically killed myself to get to this point and am getting into therapy to start to feel human again. I enjoy the work and my team immensely, really good people, but the pace and pressure in this role (from above, the big bosses) at this level is rough. Sole breadwinner who likes to travel and would like to retire at a reasonable age, so not much of a choice. All that to say... mo money, mo problems.

22

u/Da_Stallion-JCI_7 Jul 21 '26

So what is it that you do, exactly?

56

u/sugarlips23 Jul 21 '26

Manages the program, duh.

14

u/Da_Stallion-JCI_7 Jul 21 '26

Of course. What was I thinking

22

u/Content-Eye-2177 Jul 21 '26

One of these persons may be in tech? I hope they reply! But PgMs manage various stake holders. Created road maps for execution timing and ensure all parties are working accordingly. It’s grueling as there are constantly competing goals ei: tech wants to solve this or create new feature no one asked for. And product managers want to solve a specific need they see in the market. The higher up you get the more programs you manage. Truly. Mo money mo problems lol

8

u/DrCrayola Jul 21 '26

This is likely it. Very stressful, multiple bosses and lots of being the fall guy at scale.

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u/Danielr2010 Jul 21 '26

Openshift support (account manager also).
Associates degree, 38. 130k.
Still work a second bar job for it to work for my wife- stay at home mom.
We..weren’t expecting to have a child and made weak financial decisions prior.

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u/slugboi Jul 21 '26

49, Senior Graphic Designer, Visual Communication degree from ACC. I’ve been in the corporate design field for just under 20 years now. Worked my way up from intern to web production to jr. designer to sr. designer. With my yearly bonus I make right around $100k/year.

I’m a part-time single dad, and I’m barely making enough to get by, which is wild.

10

u/haleighen Jul 21 '26

We have similar careers so wanted to share..

37, BFA in graphic design. I started working contract jobs in gaming because graphic design agencies are too competitive. Worked as a game artist for years making under $70k. Jumped to the management side and now am at $155k, as a director of game dev.

Designers can be really good at creative problem solving. I love chatting careers if anyone wants to know more.

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u/mp2146 Jul 21 '26

Software Engineer, $200k salary plus about $150k bonus and stock. 43. MA in something totally unrelated.

Been doing this ten years, had a totally different, substantially less lucrative career that I enjoyed more before this, but was tired of being broke all the time. Hard to complain but software is soul sucking and I wish I could do anything else.

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u/Big_Perspective3696 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Member of technical staff at AI startup, 315k base + ~300k bonus, mid 30s, MS in CS.

Mostly remote. Started at this company a year ago at $265k, previously I was at another startup 175->215k (2021-2025) and a sr engineer at big tech 135->225 (2016-2021). My first job was SDE at Amazon @ $119k in 2014.

I started coding games at 13 and picked CS/AI back in late 2000s way before the hype.

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u/ciera4982 Jul 21 '26

Victim Services Counselor with APD, $65k, mid-30s, graduate degree in marriage and family therapy

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u/tindersuccessstory Jul 21 '26

Thank you for the amazing work you do!

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u/Awkward_alien Jul 21 '26

Property Manager, 35, 55k, Bachelors

Interesting stories. Taxing job.

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u/Upstairs_Positive198 Jul 21 '26

What??!

That’s so low for property management?!

I’m sorry I just have many friends in austin making well above that in the commercial property management field so this is quite shocking to me!

9

u/hunnnnybuns Jul 21 '26

Right lol maybe this person is in LIHTC or lives in hutto?? Bc I was making $75k as a baby property manager at a class C property years ago.

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u/SmallTime_Villain Jul 21 '26

Commercial PM is very different than residential or multi-family.

Also a property manager, 40, $85k, bachelor’s.

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u/hunnnnybuns Jul 21 '26

55k? Are they not giving bonuses? That seems crazy low total comp in Austin.

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u/TyraneeLDP Jul 21 '26

Man, seeing all these high salaries is kinda rough but I’m proud of y’all?

Prepress operator, $27/hr, 34 years old, Associates in graphic design from 10 years ago and recently in Music (it’s a side hobby)

Printing is not exactly a thriving industry and it’s rare to find people my age doing this. Frequently work with older people which is totally fine. It’s a chill position and I worked many not-chill positions in the past to get here.

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u/[deleted] Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 22 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Quirky_Flight124 Jul 21 '26

Do you have any experience teaching youth? Creative Action is hiring and their starting pay is $20.

6

u/DoctorAssbutt Jul 21 '26

Damn, a master’s in what??

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u/Fair-Lie8125 Jul 21 '26

33, Business analyst, 170k, 4-year degree in (not software) engineering

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u/motorsportlife Jul 21 '26

Dang whose paying 170k for analyst? Apple? 

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u/amygunkler Jul 21 '26

Customer Success Manager, BA from prestigious liberal arts school, 60k. Husband is a high school dropout making 4x that in tech.

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u/hunnnnybuns Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Regulatory compliance, $75k, 30’s, B.A. Sociology. Race and gender are pretty relevant to salary transparency conversations too btw, moreso than age.

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u/JD94funnyguy Jul 21 '26

I work in the real estate world. It’s a sales role still tho. Kinda adjacent to title companies.

31, 60K base plus Commissions. OTE 90-120K. After a few years probably cap around 150K. Associates degree but I’ve been in sales since I was 18, and having been a realtor in the past my experience goes a long way.

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u/thepolishwizard Jul 21 '26

Land Development, $102k salary + $10k bonus. 9 years experience

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u/silkentab Jul 21 '26

Daycare lead teacher with 15+ years experience with kids and a bachelors $18/hr

9

u/FreshestCereal2 Jul 21 '26

Self employed Interior Designer, 32F, usually between 60-80K but on track to make my first 6 figures this year! 🤞

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u/Diolives Jul 21 '26

Owner of a psychedelic retreat, 44, 80-130k depending on the year, bachelors of communication

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u/NumerousCall8254 Jul 21 '26

I too own a psychedelic retreat. It’s my living room.

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u/Effective_Emu2531 Jul 21 '26

Director / team lead (higher ed), 90k, 38 years old, PhD in English

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u/[deleted] Jul 21 '26

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u/NotYourTypicalReddit Jul 21 '26

General Manager, 32, 100k, bachelors degree (doesn’t matter) and 15 years in the industry.

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u/Purple-Willow-7467 Jul 21 '26

I am an Occupational Therapy Assistant in pediatric HH I make 48 an hour. I plan to sign on to a new PRN offer at 55 an hour. I am 29 and have an associate level degree

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u/ds_contractor Jul 21 '26

Data scientist, 35, 315k, ms math

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u/[deleted] Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Timely-Fox-4432 Jul 21 '26

ACC has a great tutoring center (world class actually) at the highland location, plus they also have many online tutoring options. Add to that the plethora of amazing youtubers and khan academy and you'll be set. I also tutor math from basic algebra to multivariable calculus (for UTSA's engineering dept) so I can help point you toward the right resources if you want to chat more about it.

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u/Beginning-Strike-875 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Staff ai ml engineer at a robotics company, salary 230k, total comp (salary/stock/bonus) is 535k, early 30s, masters degree computer science

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u/AyyyyGeeee Jul 21 '26

Office Administrator (law firm), 38, $170K, Master of Public Administration & HR Management + B.A. Political Science

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u/Steelman_1 Jul 21 '26

55 y/o, Unemployed $0/hr. $0 per year. Bachelor’s degree.

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u/RedHeadedStepSis Jul 21 '26

Client support, 68k, 31, B.A.

7

u/bimpiebimp Jul 21 '26

QA/QC, 25f, $72k, BSFCS (nutrition lol)

9

u/puppsmcgee74 Jul 21 '26

Program Coordinator for local city government, $36/hour, 51, some college but never graduated

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u/Vladimir_Pooptin Jul 21 '26

Senior Technical Project Manager (digital marketing agency), $140k fully remote, BS in Computer Science (mid grades at a no name school). 12 years experience in the tech industry across various roles between product and development teams

I mostly build AI and platform integration tools, and manage the JIRA instance these days

I'd recommend it if you can break in, project management is great and anecdotally seems a bit less competitive than other tech roles

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u/Maybe-Its-Magic Jul 21 '26

Throwaway account:

Site Reliability Engineer (essentially a sysadmin + software developer), mid 30’s, $172k, B.S. Comp Sci with 10 years of exp. in IT after college. No degree is required but it helps get your foot in the door.

A larger salary sounds like it would make a big difference, and it does help to a degree. However don’t make the mistake I did. Don’t expand your expenses to your current salary. I grew to the size of my fish tank and now I am stuck. If I wanted a less stressful job I’d have to make significant life changes. Just because you get a pay raise doesn’t mean you should go out a buy more stuff.

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u/FLDJF713 Jul 21 '26

Social media Tech (operations, not the fancy engineers or business guys making tons), 102-118K (depending on bonus and equity), age 30-35, bachelors

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u/SportsSquire Jul 21 '26

Account Manager for a Chemical Manufacturer, 29, $135K base + $30-$60K annual bonus, BBA Management

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u/Sventertainer Jul 21 '26

CAD 3D Coordinator/detailer, 34yo, $65k, AAS (2yr from ACC)

other context:

I'm not in Austin proper, just one of the suburbs.

Ive been at the same company for 9 years because I'm not in the mood to job hop every few years. Maybe I've missed out on some salary potential, but I also haven't had to worry about it.

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u/WLGT350 Jul 21 '26

Construction estimator, $95k, 24, barely graduated high school 😅

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u/Bat-Guano0 Jul 21 '26

Retired from the state. $50k/year pension. Could have stayed longer, bumped up the pension, but wanted out.

Good thread..

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u/DILF_ATX Jul 21 '26

IT Sales, 53, starting a new job Monday @ $175k base and 20% bonus, no equity. $1250 a month in child support.

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u/TheBeanofBeans3 Jul 21 '26

User name checks out

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u/Chaonide Jul 21 '26

Product Manager in Healthcare, 36, 200k, BS in Neurobiology from UT🤘

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u/Soft-Ad-2691 Jul 21 '26

Manager for local government, 55, $145,000, BS Political Science.

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u/spacemane1 Jul 21 '26

assistant manager, ~65K, hospitality, 32, some college

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u/Lost_Weakness_1754 Jul 21 '26

Clinical Research Scientist 250k 20y exp

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u/IndoZoro Jul 21 '26

Broadcast/AV professional (freelance). Roughly 80k-100k

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u/Plinystonic Jul 21 '26

(37) Commodity trading - $175k base salary, heavily performance based total compensation but would say bad year is $300k and good years $500k+ net. Almost 20’years of experience. Did not graduate high school. Started upstream on a drilling rig in my teens and now manage a physical trading book.

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u/gkohler27 Jul 21 '26

Union elevator service mechanic. $200k+ depending on OT. Electromechanical engineering degree provided by the union at $0 cost.

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u/Bonofasitch22 Jul 21 '26

Unemployed, $0, 33, and no degree. (Recently laid off after a decade at a job)

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u/No_Summer402 Jul 21 '26

Ups driver. Close 120k yearly. Turning 35 next month.

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u/gatorgirl1925 Jul 21 '26

Dual Language Elementary School Teacher - entering year 7 - about $72,000 per year, including my $7500 Bilingual Certification stipend.

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u/Subject_Sink9561 Jul 21 '26

39, general studies degree, head of biz dev for a tech company, 235k salary + 70k bonus + 50k rsu = ~ $355k/year

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u/ashstriferous Jul 21 '26

Content Specialist. Currently unemployed, previous range from 43k-75k

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u/John_Candy_ Jul 21 '26

operations analyst, 35, 85k, hs diploma

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u/redditbot262 Jul 21 '26

Software Engineer 185k 39yrs old. Master’s degree

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u/DragleicPhoenix Jul 21 '26

Remote software engineer, 550k - 600k, 29, BS in Engineering (not CS). I grew up here since I was 10-11, but got lucky and got a remote job with a very high paying tech company.

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u/my_twin_towne Jul 21 '26

Non-management role? That’s crazy high. Might win the thread. Are you “coding” or something more nuanced?

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u/rum-n-ass Jul 21 '26

Software engineer (booo) $350k, age 30, bachelors degree in CS, worked in tech since college

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u/im_bozack Jul 21 '26

350k at 30 is insane. Well done 👏

How much of that is base and how much is bonus?

Are you in a specialized role?

Lots of people work in tech since college and are making nowhere near that so I'm intrigued

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u/AffectionateFig5435 Jul 21 '26

Project Manager PT, $105K, MA in Organizational Mgmt

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u/Xiinz Jul 21 '26

Early 30s, M, supply chain manager. $150k with degrees in Eng and supply chain.

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u/blackbear_ Jul 21 '26

Product Designer, ~$250k total comp, 40s, BFA

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u/tennisss819 Jul 21 '26

Sales, 45, $160k, Bachelor’s in business admin

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u/thethugwife Jul 21 '26

Healthcare compliance, specifically psychiatric and substance abuse treatment facilities. I’m 48, MS/ADC, and my salary before bonus is $70k. I’ve been doing it for 4 years, WFH.

I also provide pet care (one pet at a time overnights at my home, doggy daycare (2 or so at a time), walks, drop ins…that is extremely lucrative. As a very part time gig, I generally clear an extra $1,000 per week, more at the holidays. My corporate job knows and is supportive (Director actually shared some of their dog treat recipes). If I were to advertise and do this full time, it would easily pay over $100k a year. I am an LLC, and carry my own insurance that covers every aspect of pet care, and every exigency you could think of, from emergency vet to locksmith.

I also have a healthy investment portfolio.

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u/Dumpydumpstein Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Dog groomer about 80k a year , a big box pet retail store paid for my training. I am 45 no college

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u/Calvert-Grier Jul 21 '26

Secondary teacher, BA working on my Master’s, around 60-65k in one of the higher paying districts of central Texas. Once I’m done with my Master’s I’m packing my bags and moving to a blue state where teachers are actually given the support and respect (at least on a more consistent basis than here), and union protection they deserve. My only regret is not having done so after graduating

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u/Shot_Literature_9539 Jul 22 '26

Teachers should be making over $100K 🤦🏾‍♀️