How San Antonio take-home pay works
Your San Antonio 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: 1,548,422 city / 2,813,140 metro (Census estimates for July 2025). San Antonio 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 San Antonio salaries
Estimated annual net pay for a single filer in San Antonio, 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 San Antonio
Understanding your paycheck in San Antonio means looking beyond the gross number, the cost of living here directly determines what your take-home pay actually buys.
| Median household income | $66,176/year |
| Median earnings, people with earnings | $37,315/year |
| Price level, metro area (BEA 2024) | 94.7 (U.S. = 100) |
| Median rent, 1 bedroom | $1,201/month |
| Median rent, 2 bedrooms | $1,419/month |
Income and rent: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates for the city of San Antonio. 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 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area.
Tax highlight
San Antonio's combination of no state income tax and one of the lowest costs of living among major US metros makes it one of the highest-value cities for take-home pay. A single filer earning $70,000 keeps about $3,285 a year more in San Antonio than on the same salary in California, before counting San Antonio's lower housing costs.
San Antonio local economy & job market
San Antonio's economy is anchored by the military: Joint Base San Antonio combines the former Fort Sam Houston, Lackland AFB, and Randolph AFB into one complex of active-duty personnel, civilian workers and contractors. USAA is a major financial-services employer. Healthcare is significant, Methodist Healthcare, Baptist Health, and University Health System are large employers. H-E-B is another major employer. Tourism (the River Walk, Alamo, missions, and theme parks) supports a large hospitality workforce. The Eagle Ford Shale boom of the 2010s diversified into manufacturing, Toyota's truck plant in south Bexar County continues to expand. San Antonio's growth has been steady (the metro's population grew 10% from April 2020 to July 2025, against 15% for the Austin metro and 11% for Houston's, Census estimates) without the boom-bust volatility of Austin or Houston, making it a stable but slower-growing economy.
Top employers & industries in San Antonio
Major employers
- USAA
- H-E-B
- Joint Base San Antonio (military)
- Methodist Healthcare
- Valero Energy
Key industries
- Military & Defense
- Healthcare
- Finance & Insurance
- Tourism & Hospitality
What jobs pay in the San Antonio area
Annual wages across the San Antonio-New Braunfels, 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 | $34,950 – $73,810 | $47,010 |
| Registered Nurses | $78,100 – $100,760 | $94,370 |
| Software Developers | $101,000 – $154,790 | $128,430 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,470 – $99,780 | $78,650 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,020 – $62,990 | $61,720 |
| Electricians | $45,300 – $65,750 | $57,010 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $46,670 – $63,540 | $53,650 |
| Retail Salespersons | $27,900 – $36,550 | $30,960 |
| Information Security Analysts | $99,490 – $149,220 | $122,560 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $91,410 – $147,350 | $119,870 |
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.
San Antonio housing market
San Antonio has the lowest home values among Texas's four largest cities: the median value of owner-occupied homes in the city was $260,900 in 2024, as owners estimate it (Census Bureau). Stone Oak (north), Helotes (northwest), and Schertz (northeast) are popular family suburbs with new construction. Alamo Heights and Olmos Park are the high-end inner enclaves where homes cost far above the city median. Property taxes are high: the median property tax bill in the city is $4,026, about 1.5% of the median home value (Census Bureau, 2024), with the homestead exemption providing meaningful relief. Inventory has loosened since 2023, giving buyers slightly more leverage than during the 2021-22 frenzy. New construction in the burgeoning corridors along Loop 1604 and US-281 (north) and IH-10 (west) has been substantial. Flood risk is lower than Houston (no coastline) but Hill Country flash flooding can affect western/northwestern suburbs.
Commute & transportation in San Antonio
San Antonio is heavily car-oriented. VIA Metropolitan Transit operates buses but rail is limited. The mean one-way commute was 25 minutes in 2024 (Census, workers who don't work from home). Loop 1604, US-281, and I-35 are the main arteries. The city is more compact than Houston, making cross-town drives manageable outside peak hours. Park & Ride options exist along major corridors.
Notable neighborhoods in San Antonio
San Antonio tax nuances you should know
San Antonio benefits from Texas's no-income-tax policy plus relatively moderate sales tax (8.25% combined, the state cap). Property tax is the main offset, the median property tax bill in the city is about 1.5% of the median home value (Census Bureau, 2024). The $140,000 school-district homestead exemption reduces taxable value meaningfully for primary residences. Active-duty military stationed at JBSA pay no Texas income tax (no Texas income tax exists), but those who maintain legal residence in their home state may owe income tax there under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Civilian federal employees at JBSA pay only federal income tax, Texas adds nothing. San Antonio's proximity to the border means some residents commute daily to Mexico for work; that triggers special tax considerations including Foreign Earned Income Exclusion eligibility for those qualifying. CPS Energy (city-owned utility) and SAWS (water) are not investor-owned, which keeps rates lower than in many private-utility markets.
San Antonio 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 San Antonio? 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 San Antonio?
San Antonio works best for: military families and federal employees seeking long-term stability; healthcare workers attracted to the major hospital networks; first-time homebuyers facing affordability challenges elsewhere; Mexican-American families and those who appreciate the strong Hispanic cultural heritage and bilingual environment; and retirees seeking a more affordable Sun Belt alternative to Florida. Less ideal for: tech workers (the local tech ecosystem is small compared to Austin or Dallas); those wanting a high-paying coastal-style finance career (limited opportunities); or anyone needing extensive public transit (VIA covers buses but no rail). San Antonio's slower growth means less salary inflation than Austin but also less housing inflation, a steady, livable major city. Use the calculator above to compare your take-home to other Texas cities.
San Antonio paycheck frequently asked questions
How much take-home pay do I get on a $60,000 salary in San Antonio?
A single filer earning $60,000 in San Antonio takes home about $50,390 annually after federal income tax and FICA. No Texas state tax means your entire deduction is federal, giving you a significant edge over workers in taxed states. Bi-weekly take-home is about $1,938.
What are the biggest employers in San Antonio?
San Antonio's economy is anchored by the military (Joint Base San Antonio), USAA (insurance/financial services), H-E-B (the Texas grocery chain), and Methodist Healthcare. Tourism around the River Walk and Alamo also supports a large hospitality workforce.
Is San Antonio a good city for first-time homebuyers?
Yes, a median home value of $260,900 (owner estimates, Census Bureau 2024) combined with no state income tax and prices below the national level (BEA 2024 price level 94.7, U.S. = 100) make San Antonio one of the best markets for first-time buyers. Property taxes are higher than the Texas average: the median bill is about 1.5% of the median home value in San Antonio against 1.3% statewide (Census Bureau, 2024), but the lack of income tax more than offsets this for most earners.