Tax Preparer salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Tax Preparers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median of $47,320 a year ($22.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,330 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $54,920. Pay here is about the same as the Texas statewide median of $47,460. There are 0.39 tax preparers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $58,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tax preparers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,070 | $16.86 |
| 25th percentile | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| Median | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| 75th percentile | $80,740 | $38.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,330 | $43.43 |
| Average (mean) | $58,040 | $27.91 |
Half of tax preparers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,943.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,971.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,820 |
| Weekly | $910 |
| Hourly | $22.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,320 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tax Preparer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Amarillo, TX | $70,980 | 60 |
| Waco, TX | $65,020 | 40 |
| El Paso, TX | $59,990 | n/a |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $49,630 | 90 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $48,150 | 490 |
| Tyler, TX | $47,210 | n/a |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $47,020 | 1,780 |
| Midland, TX | $46,210 | 30 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $42,990 | 90 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $39,580 | 150 |
| Lubbock, TX | $37,770 | 50 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $37,760 | 70 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $37,630 | 30 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $35,960 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for tax preparers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $71,850 |
| California | $70,030 |
| Utah | $66,720 |
| Montana | $63,080 |
| Missouri | $62,780 |
| Colorado | $62,620 |
| Alaska | $62,360 |
| New Hampshire | $61,370 |
| Oregon | $61,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,270 |
See Tax Preparer pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,090 | $40.91 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $101,660 | $48.87 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $98,930 | $47.56 |
| Loan Officer | $67,560 | $32.48 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $76,820 | $36.93 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $77,770 | $37.39 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $64,220 | $30.87 |
| Credit Analyst | $79,280 | $38.12 |
| Credit Counselor | $48,100 | $23.13 |
| Financial Examiner | $82,990 | $39.90 |
| Budget Analyst | $98,330 | $47.27 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $101,200 | $48.66 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $102,190 | $49.13 |
| Project Management Specialist | $99,510 | $47.84 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2082. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tax preparer make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median salary for tax preparers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $47,320 a year, or $22.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $90,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tax preparers make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The top 10% of tax preparers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn at least $90,330 a year. The top 25% earn $80,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for tax preparers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,070 a year, and a quarter of tax preparers earn $35,320 or less.
How many tax preparers work in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
About 1,280 tax preparers are employed in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.