Corpus Christi Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Corpus Christi, TX: $21.81/hr median hourly wage, $45,350 median annual salary, cost of living index 86, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Texas taxes.
Corpus Christi Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Corpus Christi, TX is $21.81/hr,and the median annual wage is $45,350. Entry-level pay estimates around $13.52/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $30.97/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Corpus Christi, TX metropolitan statistical area (192,580 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Corpus Christi shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$45,350
$21.81/hr
Cost of Living
86
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
4%
rate
Corpus Christi, TX Overview
Population
317,863
Median Salary
$45,350
Average Salary
$57,670
Avg Commute
22 min
Median Home Price
$210,000
Median Rent
$1,050/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
8.25%
Corpus Christi is located in Texas with a population of 317,863. The median annual wage across all occupations is $45,350 ($21.81/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Corpus Christi, TX metro), which is $5,630 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 22 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.5%.
Corpus Christi Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Corpus Christi, TX built around the $45,350 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Corpus Christi, TX metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $28,117 | $13.52/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $45,350 | $21.81/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $64,397 | $30.97/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $80,723 | $38.82/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Corpus Christi Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Corpus Christi, TX, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$38,619
$3,218.23/month · $1,485.34/biweekly · Effective Rate: 14.8%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,485.34 take-home per paycheck after estimated Texas and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$45,350
Federal Tax
-$3,262
State Tax
$0
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,469
Net Pay
$38,619
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,779.17 | $45,350.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$271.83 | -$3,262.00 |
| Texas State Tax (0.00% eff.) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$234.31 | -$2,811.70 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$54.80 | -$657.58 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,218.23 | $38,618.73 |
Salary Comparison: Corpus Christi vs Other Cities
See how Corpus Christi's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi, TX | $45,350 | 86 | $52,733 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Twin Falls, ID | $45,400 | 90.8 | $50,000 |
| Kingsport, TN | $45,240 | 90.7 | $49,879 |
| Springfield, OH | $45,470 | 86.9 | $52,325 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $45,220 | 86 | $52,581 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi's cost of living index is 86 (national average = 100). Living in Corpus Christi is 14% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$210,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,050
Annual Rent Cost
$12,600
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $38,619 annual take-home pay in Corpus Christi has the purchasing power of approximately $44,905 in an average-cost US area. Your $45,350 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $45,350.
Salary Tips for Corpus Christi Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Corpus Christi has a cost of living 14% below the national average. A salary of $45,350 here has the purchasing power of about $52,733 in an average-cost area.
- No state income tax advantage. Texas has no state income tax, which means more of your paycheck stays in your pocket. Invest the savings in a Roth IRA or 401(k) for long-term growth.
- Research top industries. Corpus Christi's top industries include Energy, Military, Tourism. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $45,350 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Other Cities in Texas
Dallas
Deer Park
Del Rio
Denton
DeSoto
Duncanville
Eagle Pass
Edinburg
El Paso
Euless
Farmers Branch
Flower Mound
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Corpus Christi salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Corpus Christi, TX metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Corpus Christi indexed at 86.
- Median salary: $45,350 annual, $21.81 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Corpus Christi, TX MSA (192,580 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $57,670 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Corpus Christi was $52,000.
- Tax burden reflects Texas 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 0%) (no local income tax), sales tax (8.25%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Corpus Christi: 4%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Energy, Military, Tourism, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Texas.
- Housing context: median home price $210,000, median rent $1,050/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Corpus Christi, TX:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Corpus Christi unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Corpus Christi QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Texas, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Corpus Christi's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Texas labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Corpus Christi, TX?
The median hourly wage in Corpus Christi, TX is $21.81 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Corpus Christi, TX metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $45,350. Entry-level workers are estimated around $13.52/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $30.97/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Corpus Christi, TX?
The median salary in Corpus Christi, TX is $45,350 per year, or $21.81 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Corpus Christi, TX metro area). The BLS mean salary is $57,670. This is $5,630 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Corpus Christi, TX?
Corpus Christi's cost of living index is 86 (national average = 100), meaning it is 14% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $210,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,050.
What are the best industries in Corpus Christi?
The top industries in Corpus Christi, TX include Energy, Military, Tourism. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 4%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $45,350.
How does Corpus Christi's salary compare to other cities?
Corpus Christi's median salary of $45,350 is 11.0% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 86), the real purchasing power is approximately $52,733.
What is the minimum wage in Corpus Christi, TX?
The minimum wage in Corpus Christi, TX is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.