2026 WordPress Developer Salary in Houston: $45,000-$130,000 (2026)

Houston’s cost-of-living index around 95 means nominal salaries stretch further than in higher-cost tech hubs. For a WordPress developer earning the local average (~$80k), monthly take-home pay after taxes typically supports a moderate lifestyle: rent for a one-bedroom inside popular neighborhoods (Midtown, Montrose, The Heights) runs roughly $1,200–1,400; suburban two-bedrooms (Sugar Land, Katy, Pearland) can be $900–1,200.

Commute costs are moderate—driving remains common, so factor in gas, insurance and tolls (monthly commute cost often $150–350 depending on distance). Compared with Austin or San Francisco equivalents, Houston developers pay less for housing and parking, which increases discretionary income for savings or freelance investments (plugin/theme purchases, premium tooling).

However, specific pockets of the city (River Oaks, Upper Kirby) have much higher housing costs, so localized neighborhood choice meaningfully affects purchasing power. Overall, WordPress devs in Houston can achieve comfortable housing and save for professional development more easily than peers in higher-COL metros.

Salaries for WordPress developers in Houston reflect a mix of industry demand and local economic structure. Major employers—health systems (Memorial Hermann, MD Anderson, HCA), energy firms (Chevron, Shell, Baker Hughes), and universities—maintain sizable web teams or outsource to regional agencies.

These employers often need CMS-driven corporate sites, microsites for campaigns, intranet portals, and content-rich marketing sites, creating steady demand for WP specialists. Local digital agencies and creative shops drive project-based hiring; during marketing campaign seasons or grant cycles (common with healthcare and universities) agencies hire contract or full-time WP developers.

Economic factors—energy market cycles and healthcare investment—create periods of heightened hiring followed by plateaus, hence overall a moderate demand level. Additionally, the rise of headless CMS, React-based front ends, and performance/security expectations pushes salaries up for developers with JS frameworks, API experience, and enterprise WordPress knowledge (multisite, VIP, WP-CLI).

Austin pays a premium for WordPress and front-end talent (avg ~$90k) but has a COL index near 115; a developer moving from Houston to Austin might see a 10–15% pay bump but face 15–25% higher rent and living costs. Dallas salaries are slightly above Houston (~$82k) with a COL close to national average, making relocation less disruptive.

San Antonio has lower average pay (~$70k) and lower COL (~92), which suits those prioritizing lower housing costs over salary. Commuting from suburbs (Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Pearland) to central Houston is common; remote work has grown—many agencies and tech teams permit fully remote or hybrid models, which can equalize salary expectations with remote-posted roles.

If you can work fully remote for an Austin or national employer, you may secure higher pay but lose some Houston-specific perks (lower housing costs, local healthcare networks). Consider total compensation and tax/benefit differences when planning relocation or commuting choices.

Entry-level (0–2 years): Focus on mastering PHP, theme/plugin development, Git, and basic site performance. Expect $45k–$60k; common roles are junior dev at an agency or internal marketing team.

Mid-level (3–7 years): Expand into custom plugin architecture, REST API integration, headless WordPress patterns, build tooling, and deployment pipelines (CI/CD). Expect $70k–$90k; opportunities include lead dev on client projects, product-focused WP roles, or technical specialist at a healthcare/energy org.

Senior (8+ years): Specialize in architecture (multisite, enterprise WP, security hardening), team leadership, DevOps for WordPress, and client/vendor strategy—expect $100k–$130k+. Accelerants to faster progression in Houston: experience with healthcare compliance (HIPAA-aware web development), performance/security certifications, familiarity with enterprise hosting (Pantheon, WP Engine, WordPress VIP), and proven agency portfolio with measurable results (SEO, conversions).

Networking with local meetups (Houston WordPress Meetup) and contributing to open-source plugins also speeds advancement.

When negotiating, use local comps: request $70k–$85k for strong mid-level roles, $95k–$125k for senior positions with enterprise experience. Employers in Houston often value practical, sector-specific experience (healthcare, energy, higher ed).

Trade-offs: some agencies offer lower base pay but higher billable-rate bonuses, training stipends, and remote flexibility; larger institutions offer steadier benefits (healthcare, retirement) and predictable raises. Negotiate for: paid training/annual conference budget (e.

g. , WP Engine Summit, WordCamp US), flexible/hybrid work, paid certification or course stipends, and a clear path to title/salary review at 6–12 months.

If relocating within Houston, request a modest relocation allowance ($1,500–5,000) or a signing bonus to cover moving/overlap costs. Be prepared to demonstrate measurable outcomes (site speed improvements, conversion lift, reduced maintenance costs) to justify higher asks—Houston hiring managers respond well to domain-specific metrics tied to business goals.