El Paso Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
El Paso, TX: $18.99/hr median hourly wage, $39,510 median annual salary, cost of living index 82, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Texas taxes.
El Paso Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in El Paso, TX is $18.99/hr,and the median annual wage is $39,510. Entry-level pay estimates around $11.77/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $26.97/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, El Paso, TX metropolitan statistical area (339,120 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so El Paso shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$39,510
$18.99/hr
Cost of Living
82
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
4%
rate
El Paso, TX Overview
Population
678,815
Median Salary
$39,510
Average Salary
$51,870
Avg Commute
22 min
Median Home Price
$195,000
Median Rent
$950/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
8.25%
El Paso is located in Texas with a population of 678,815. The median annual wage across all occupations is $39,510 ($18.99/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, El Paso, TX metro), which is $11,470 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%.
El Paso Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in El Paso, TX built around the $39,510 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, El Paso, 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 | $24,496 | $11.77/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $39,510 | $18.99/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $56,104 | $26.97/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $70,328 | $33.80/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.
El Paso Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in El Paso, TX, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$33,926
$2,827.19/month · $1,304.86/biweekly · Effective Rate: 14.1%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,304.86 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
$39,510
Federal Tax
-$2,561
State Tax
$0
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,023
Net Pay
$33,926
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,292.50 | $39,510.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$213.43 | -$2,561.20 |
| Texas State Tax (0.00% eff.) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$204.14 | -$2,449.62 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$47.74 | -$572.90 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $2,827.19 | $33,926.29 |
Salary Comparison: El Paso vs Other Cities
See how El Paso's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TX | $39,510 | 82 | $48,183 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Fort Smith, AR | $39,560 | 82 | $48,244 |
| Florence, AL | $39,740 | 83.5 | $47,593 |
| Valdosta, GA | $39,110 | 83.2 | $47,007 |
| Auburn, AL | $39,070 | 90 | $43,411 |
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 El Paso
El Paso's cost of living index is 82 (national average = 100). Living in El Paso is 18% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$195,000
Median Monthly Rent
$950
Annual Rent Cost
$11,400
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $33,926 annual take-home pay in El Paso has the purchasing power of approximately $41,374 in an average-cost US area. Your $39,510 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in El Paso
El Paso's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $39,510.
Salary Tips for El Paso Workers
- Your salary goes further here. El Paso has a cost of living 18% below the national average. A salary of $39,510 here has the purchasing power of about $48,183 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. El Paso's top industries include Military, Healthcare, Trade. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $39,510 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.
Job Salaries in El Paso, TX
Browse occupation-specific salaries for El Paso. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the El Paso, TX metro area (75 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for El Paso's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in Texas
Euless
Farmers Branch
Flower Mound
Fort Worth
Friendswood
Frisco
Galveston
Garland
Georgetown
Grand Prairie
Grapevine
Greenville
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate El Paso salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the El Paso, 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 El Paso indexed at 82.
- Median salary: $39,510 annual, $18.99 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, El Paso, TX MSA (339,120 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $51,870 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for El Paso was $47,000.
- 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 El Paso: 4%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Military, Healthcare, Trade, 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 $195,000, median rent $950/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for El Paso, TX:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, El Paso unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, El Paso 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. El Paso'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
Explore Salaries Across the US
Compare salary data and cost of living for hundreds of US cities. Find out where your paycheck goes the furthest.
Related Salary Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in El Paso, TX?
The median hourly wage in El Paso, TX is $18.99 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the El Paso, TX metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $39,510. Entry-level workers are estimated around $11.77/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $26.97/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in El Paso, TX?
The median salary in El Paso, TX is $39,510 per year, or $18.99 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, El Paso, TX metro area). The BLS mean salary is $51,870. This is $11,470 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in El Paso, TX?
El Paso's cost of living index is 82 (national average = 100), meaning it is 18% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $195,000 and the median monthly rent is $950.
What are the best industries in El Paso?
The top industries in El Paso, TX include Military, Healthcare, Trade. 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 $39,510.
How does El Paso's salary compare to other cities?
El Paso's median salary of $39,510 is 22.5% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 82), the real purchasing power is approximately $48,183.
What is the minimum wage in El Paso, TX?
The minimum wage in El Paso, 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.