Total taxes on a $100,000 salary in Texas's 5 biggest metros
Same household in every city: single filer, $100,000 salary, $350,000 homestead inside the city limits, and the calculator's default spending (taxable purchases, a car every five years, gas, phone, travel). Texas has no state or local income tax, so the differences come from property tax.
| Metro (school district) | Property tax | Taxes you pay | % of income | With employer match |
|---|
| Houston (Houston ISD) | $4,731 | $28,763 | 28.8% | 33.8% |
| Austin (Austin ISD) | $5,150 | $29,181 | 29.2% | 34.2% |
| Dallas (Dallas ISD) | $5,191 | $29,223 | 29.2% | 34.3% |
| Fort Worth (Fort Worth ISD) | $5,501 | $29,532 | 29.5% | 34.5% |
| San Antonio (Northside ISD) | $5,816 | $29,847 | 29.8% | 34.8% |
"Taxes you pay" includes $13,170 federal income tax, $7,650 Social Security and Medicare, property tax, and about $3,200 in sales, vehicle, fuel, utility and travel taxes and fees. "With employer match" adds the $7,650 your employer pays on your wages to both the taxes and the income. Property tax uses 2025 adopted rates and homestead exemptions; 2026 bills may differ.
What the calculator counts
- Federal income tax using 2026 brackets and standard deductions, with long-term capital gains and qualified dividends taxed at 0%, 15% or 20%.
- Child and dependent credits: $2,200 per child under 17 and $500 per other dependent, with the income phaseout.
- Payroll taxes: 6.2% Social Security up to $184,500 per person, 1.45% Medicare, the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax and the 3.8% net investment income tax.
- State and local income tax: $0 in the nine states without a wage income tax; enter your own amount or rate elsewhere.
- Property tax by taxing unit for Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Fort Worth, or from your actual bill anywhere.
- Spending taxes: sales tax, vehicle sales tax spread over the years you keep the car, gas tax, phone and utility taxes, air ticket taxes, hotel tax, and alcohol and tobacco excise.
How your effective tax burden is calculated
Every tax is turned into annual dollars first, then divided by one income figure. Tax rates on different things (wages, purchases, home value) are never simply added together.
Effective burden = (taxes you pay + employer payroll match) ÷ (gross household income + employer payroll match)
Turn the employer match off and it leaves both sides of the formula. Gross household income is salary plus realized investment income. It doesn't include portfolio balances or paper gains.
Frequently asked questions
How much of my income goes to taxes in total?
It depends on income, location and spending. In our Texas example, a single person earning $100,000 who owns a $350,000 home pays about 29% of income in combined taxes, or about 34% if you count the employer's share of payroll tax. Enter your own numbers above for your figure.
Does Texas have a state income tax?
No. Texas has no state personal income tax and no local income taxes. It relies mainly on property and sales taxes, which is why property tax is often a Texas homeowner's biggest tax after federal taxes.
What is the sales tax rate in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Fort Worth?
8.25% in all five: the 6.25% Texas state rate plus 2% in local taxes, the maximum Texas allows.
How is Texas property tax calculated?
Each taxing unit (city, county, school district, hospital, college and special districts) applies its rate per $100 to your appraised value minus that unit's exemptions. Homesteads get a $140,000 school district exemption, and many cities and counties add a local exemption of up to 20%. The calculator adds up every unit on a typical bill.
Why include the employer's half of Social Security and Medicare?
Your employer pays 7.65% on your wages on top of your salary. Many economists treat that as part of your pay, since without the tax it could go to wages. You can switch it off to see only the taxes you pay directly.
What's the difference between my marginal and effective tax rate?
Your marginal rate is the federal bracket your next dollar of income falls in. Your effective burden is your total taxes divided by your total income. It's lower than the top bracket for income tax alone, but higher once payroll, property and spending taxes are counted.
Is my information saved or shared?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. There's no account, and nothing you enter is sent to TaxDrop or anyone else.
How accurate is this calculator?
It uses 2026 IRS and Social Security figures and 2025 adopted local property tax rates. It's an estimate, not a tax return: it doesn't model refundable credits, self-employment tax, the alternative minimum tax, capital losses or special deductions, and it labels results "Partial estimate" when a tax it needs is missing.
Is your property tax higher than it should be?
Property tax is usually the biggest local line in your total. If your appraised value is too high, TaxDrop can protest it for you.
See if you can save with TaxDrop
Sources
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32: 2026 brackets, standard deductions, child tax credit, capital-gain thresholds, air segment fee
- Social Security Administration: 2026 wage base ($184,500)
- IRS Additional Medicare Tax and Net Investment Income Tax
- Texas Comptroller: sales, motor vehicle, fuel and property tax exemption rules
- Property tax rates: Dallas County, Harris Central Appraisal District, City of Austin, Bexar County, Tarrant County
Data reviewed October 16, 2026. Estimates for planning only. Not tax, legal or financial advice.
