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Academic Advisor Salary in Austin, TX: 2026

Academic Advisor salary data for Austin, TX, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.

The estimated median Academic Advisor salary in Austin, TX is $70,763 per year ($5,897/month, $34/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 110, which is 10% above the national average.

Entry Level
$51K
$24/hr
Median
$71K
$34/hr
Senior
$88K
$42/hr
Top Earner
$110K
$53/hr

All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Austin's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.

Academic Advisor Take-Home Pay in Austin

Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)

Gross Annual$70,763
Federal Tax-$6,738
State Tax (0.0% eff.)-$0
FICA (SS + Medicare)-$5,413
Annual Take-Home$58,612
Monthly Take-Home$4,884

Living Cost Comparison

Median Rent$1,700/mo
Rent-to-Income Ratio28.8%
Median Home Price$450,000
Cost of Living Index110
City Median Salary (BLS metro, all jobs)$56,950
Academic Advisor vs City Median+$13,813

Academic Advisor Requirements

Education
Master's Degree
Experience
0-2 years
Job Growth
5.0% (2024-2034)

Key Skills

Student DevelopmentDegree AuditsCareer CounselingAcademic PlanningData Management

Austin Job Market Overview

Austin, Texas has a population of 978,908 and an unemployment rate of 2.5%. The top industries are Technology, Government, Education. The local job growth rate is 3.5%, and the average commute time is 26minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.

Salary Percentile Breakdown: Academic Advisor in Austin

Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Academic Advisor in Austin, TX, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:

PercentileAnnual SalaryHourly EquivalentCareer Stage
10th (lowest)$50,930$24/hrEntry-level, < 1 yr exp.
25th$60,847$29/hrJunior, 1-3 yrs exp.
50th (median)$70,763$34/hrMid-career, 0-2 years
75th$87,780$42/hrSenior, 5-10 yrs exp.
90th (top)$110,440$53/hrLead/Principal, 10+ yrs

Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Austin's Technology sector.

5-Year Salary Trajectory

Salario's national dataset models approximately 11.0% salary growth for Academic Advisors over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Austin estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:

5 Years Ago
$63,750
Adjusted for Austin COL
Today (2026)
$70,763
+11.0% vs 5y ago
Projected 2031
$78,547
If growth continues

Year-over-year, an average Academic Advisor can expect a 14.6% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 4 years in Austin. Negotiation, certifications (NACADA Certification, Master's in Higher Ed), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.

Austin vs National Average

The national median Academic Advisor salary is $64,330 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors). In Austin, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $70,763 is 10.0% above the national figure. This reflects Austin's cost of living index of 110 (higher than the national average of 100).

For Academic Advisors, this means: rent typically consumes 34.8% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered rent-burdened), and a median home in Austin costs about 7.7× annual take-home. Homeownership in Austin on this salary is challenging, most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.

Industry Context: Technology in Austin

Austin's economy is anchored by Technology, Government, Education, with 978,908 residents and an unemployment rate of 2.5% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Academic Advisors can differ by sector, so compare Technology employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 3.5%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 5.0% growth outlook for Academic Advisor roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.

Methodology & Data Sources

How we calculate Academic Advisor salaries in Austin, TX:

  1. Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors). For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
  2. Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Austin index of 110 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
  3. Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
  4. Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), TX 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 0.0%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
  5. Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.

Authoritative data sources:

Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Academic Advisor salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Technology vs others in Austin), specific skill set (Student Development, Degree Audits, Career Counseling), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Academic Advisor salary in Austin, TX?
Salario estimates the median Academic Advisor salary in Austin, TX at $70,763 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Academic Advisor benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 110, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $50,930, and the senior estimate is $87,780 or more.
How much does a Academic Advisor take home in Austin after taxes?
A Academic Advisor earning the median salary of $70,763 in Austin, TX takes home approximately $58,612 per year ($4,884/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 17.2%.
Is Austin a good city for Academic Advisors?
Austin, TX has a cost of living index of 110 (above national average). Academic Advisors here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 2.5% and top industries include Technology, Government, Education.
What skills are needed for a Academic Advisor in Austin?
Key skills for Academic Advisors include Student Development, Degree Audits, Career Counseling, Academic Planning, Data Management. Typical education requirement is Master's Degree. Valuable certifications include NACADA Certification, Master's in Higher Ed.
How does Academic Advisor salary in Austin compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Academic Advisor is $64,330 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Austin, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $70,763, which is 10.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Academic Advisor salary in Austin, TX?

Salario estimates the median Academic Advisor salary in Austin, TX at $70,763 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Academic Advisor benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 110, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $50,930, and the senior estimate is $87,780 or more.

How much does a Academic Advisor take home in Austin after taxes?

A Academic Advisor earning the median salary of $70,763 in Austin, TX takes home approximately $58,612 per year ($4,884/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 17.2%.

Is Austin a good city for Academic Advisors?

Austin, TX has a cost of living index of 110 (above national average). Academic Advisors here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 2.5% and top industries include Technology, Government, Education.

What skills are needed for a Academic Advisor in Austin?

Key skills for Academic Advisors include Student Development, Degree Audits, Career Counseling, Academic Planning, Data Management. Typical education requirement is Master's Degree. Valuable certifications include NACADA Certification, Master's in Higher Ed.

How does Academic Advisor salary in Austin compare to the national average?

Salario's national median benchmark for Academic Advisor is $64,330 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Austin, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $70,763, which is 10.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.