How El Paso take-home pay works
Your El Paso take-home pay is your gross salary minus federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%). The calculator subtracts each in order and divides by your pay frequency to show net pay per paycheck.
Take-home = Gross − Federal − FICA (7.65%)
Population: 683,012 city / 881,291 metro (Census estimates for July 2025). El Paso is one of the largest US cities and has unique tax rules described below.
Texas state income tax
Texas has no state income tax, one of nine US states with no personal income tax.
For full Texas state tax details, deductions, and exemptions, see the Texas Paycheck Calculator.
Take-home pay at common El Paso salaries
Estimated annual net pay for a single filer in El Paso, including federal + state taxes and FICA. Use the calculator above for personalized figures.
| Gross | Annual Net | Bi-weekly | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loading… | |||
Income vs cost of living in El Paso
Understanding your paycheck in El Paso means looking beyond the gross number, the cost of living here directly determines what your take-home pay actually buys.
| Median household income | $59,932/year |
| Median earnings, people with earnings | $35,101/year |
| Price level, metro area (BEA 2024) | 89.9 (U.S. = 100) |
| Median rent, 1 bedroom | $881/month |
| Median rent, 2 bedrooms | $1,026/month |
Income and rent: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates for the city of El Paso. Rent is median gross rent, rent plus utilities, across all renters, long-standing and rent-regulated leases included, so a new lease usually costs more. Price level: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities for the El Paso, TX metro area.
Tax highlight
El Paso has the lowest cost of living of any major Texas city (BEA 2024 price level 89.9, U.S. = 100) and Texas's zero income tax, making dollar-for-dollar take-home pay among the highest value in the country for affordability-minded workers. A single filer earning $50,000 in El Paso takes home about $42,355, $1,690 more than on the same salary in Los Angeles and $3,827 more than in New York City. Housing is where the gap widens: BEA's 2024 rent level is 71.2 for the El Paso metro against 170.4 for Los Angeles and 148.6 for New York (U.S. = 100).
El Paso local economy & job market
El Paso's economy is shaped by Fort Bliss, one of the Army's largest installations by area, home to a large population of active-duty soldiers, military families and civilian workers. Military spending is a pillar of the local economy. The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a major employer and has driven research-economy growth especially in border health, advanced manufacturing, and engineering. Cross-border commerce with Ciudad Juárez, Mexico (just across the Rio Grande) creates a massive supply-chain and logistics ecosystem, many Fortune 500 companies operate production facilities in Juárez and have El Paso as their US-side base. Healthcare (Providence Memorial, Las Palmas, University Medical Center) is a large employer. Walmart Distribution, FedEx, UPS, and call centers (Convergys/Concentrix) provide many mid-wage jobs. El Paso has the lowest cost of living of any major Texas city, making federal salaries (military and civilian) go especially far.
Top employers & industries in El Paso
Major employers
- Fort Bliss (US Army)
- University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)
- Providence Memorial Hospital
- Walmart Distribution
- Convergys / call centers
Key industries
- Military & Defense
- Healthcare
- Retail & Distribution
- International Trade & Manufacturing
What jobs pay in the El Paso area
Annual wages across the El Paso, TX metro area from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). Half of the workers in each job earn between the two figures in the middle column. Bonuses paid as wages are included; stock awards and self-employment are not.
| Occupation | Middle half earns | Median |
|---|---|---|
| All occupations | $28,930 – $62,570 | $39,510 |
| Registered Nurses | $74,330 – $98,100 | $86,100 |
| Software Developers | $95,160 – $135,470 | $127,310 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $51,300 – $83,450 | $65,990 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,790 – $65,250 | $63,800 |
| Electricians | $39,410 – $60,350 | $48,140 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $43,890 – $63,860 | $49,270 |
| Retail Salespersons | $23,710 – $33,570 | $27,330 |
| Logisticians | $44,130 – $74,350 | $61,080 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $76,210 – $128,030 | $100,470 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the whole metro area. Use the calculator above for take-home pay at any of these salaries.
El Paso housing market
El Paso has the lowest home values of the big Texas cities: the median value of owner-occupied homes in the city was $209,600 in 2024, as owners estimate it (Census Bureau). Suburbs like Horizon City, Anthony, and parts of West El Paso (Upper Valley) offer affordable single-family homes with land. The Eastside is the largest growth area for new construction. Northeast El Paso (near Fort Bliss) is the heart of the military housing market, with affordable starter homes. Western El Paso and the Upper Valley have higher-end homes with mountain views, well above the city median. Property taxes are among the highest in Texas: the median property tax bill is $3,677, about 1.8% of the median home value, against 1.3% for Texas as a whole (Census Bureau, 2024), partly because there's no industrial/oil tax base to spread the burden. The school-district homestead exemption, now $140,000, has been particularly meaningful here. Limited new construction keeps the market relatively stable, with fewer wild swings than Houston, Austin, or Dallas.
Commute & transportation in El Paso
El Paso is a border city with a car-dependent layout. Sun Metro operates buses with limited coverage. The mean one-way commute was 24 minutes in 2024 (Census, workers who don't work from home), one of the shorter averages among big Texas cities. Fort Bliss military base dominates the northeast quadrant. Cross-border commuters traveling to Ciudad Juárez for work face long, unpredictable bridge delays.
Notable neighborhoods in El Paso
El Paso tax nuances you should know
El Paso shares Texas's no-income-tax, 8.25% sales tax, and high property tax structure. Active-duty military at Fort Bliss keep their home state as their tax residence under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, so they owe that state's income tax, if it has one, whatever Texas does. Civilian federal workers receive GS locality pay on top of base salary. Cross-border commuters who work in Juárez and live in El Paso face complex tax situations: they must report worldwide income to the IRS, may owe Mexican income tax on Mexican-sourced income, and can use foreign tax credits to avoid double taxation. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion ($132,900 in 2026) is generally not available for El Paso residents commuting daily to Mexico because they don't meet the physical-presence test. El Paso's location means residents often shop in Juárez for groceries and services, purchases under personal-use limits don't trigger US duty.
El Paso paycheck & tax tips
- Maximize pre-tax deductions: 401(k) contributions (up to $24,500 in 2026), HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family), FSA ($3,400) and commuter benefits (up to $340/month) all reduce your taxable income before federal income tax is calculated.
- Check your W-4 withholding: After major life changes (marriage, a new dependent, second job), update your W-4 to avoid owing a large tax bill or over-withholding. Use our W-4 Calculator to find the right allowances.
- Pay frequency matters: Bi-weekly earners get 26 paychecks per year (2 months with 3 paychecks). Budget based on monthly income, not per-paycheck amount, to avoid surprises in 3-paycheck months.
- Track FICA limits: Social Security (6.2%) only applies to the first $184,500 of wages in 2026. Once you cross that threshold, your paycheck increases by roughly 6.2% for the rest of the year, plan ahead if you depend on that boost.
- Self-employed in El Paso? You owe the full 15.3% self-employment tax (employee + employer FICA portions) instead of 7.65%. The calculator above shows employee-side FICA, self-employed workers should add the employer half when budgeting.
Who should move to El Paso?
El Paso is best for: military families assigned to Fort Bliss; federal civilian employees who want maximum purchasing power from federal salaries; bilingual professionals in border-trade or logistics roles; UTEP faculty and researchers; families wanting the absolute lowest cost of living among major Texas cities; retirees on fixed income (Texas exempts retirement income; lowest cost of living amplifies fixed-income purchasing power). Less ideal for: high-paying corporate careers (limited Fortune 500 presence); tech workers (small ecosystem); those wanting a major airport hub (El Paso International is regional); or anyone uncomfortable with the border-region cultural environment. El Paso's slow growth and stable economy mean predictable life, dramatically different from Austin's volatility.
El Paso paycheck frequently asked questions
Why is El Paso's take-home pay among the best value in the US?
El Paso combines Texas's zero state income tax with one of the lowest price levels of any large US metro area (BEA 2024: 89.9, U.S. = 100). Median gross rent for a one-bedroom in the city is $881 a month (Census ACS 2024, rent plus utilities), and BEA's 2024 rent level for the metro is 71.2 (U.S. = 100). A single filer earning $50,000 keeps about $42,355 after federal income tax and FICA, and that take-home buys much more in El Paso than the same amount in Austin or Dallas.
What is the main economic driver of El Paso?
Fort Bliss (US Army) is El Paso's economic anchor, with a large active-duty force plus civilian workers and contractors. UTEP is a major employer in education and research. Healthcare is also a major employer. El Paso's location on the US-Mexico border makes international trade and manufacturing (maquiladoras in Juárez) a significant economic factor for the broader metro.