Here’s the Salary Needed To Crack the Top 5% in 5 Texas Cities

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They say everything is bigger in Texas — and that may include the salaries of the elite. Joining the ranks of the highest earners in many of the state’s largest cities means earning some serious money.

GOBankingRates conducted a study to find out how much you need to earn to be part of the top 5%. It’s clear there’s a real income disparity between each city’s top-earning households and that of the average household.

While high earners only make up 5% of their cities’ population, the percent of total household income they command is much more expansive. Interestingly, there’s even a notable gap between the lowest income limit needed to break into the top 5% club and the average household income of the top 5%.

Of course, even the lowest earners in the top 5% are bringing in an impressive income.  For comparison purposes, real median household income was $74,580 in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Joining the wealthiest ranks in some of the biggest cities in Texas isn’t cheap. Here’s exactly how much a household needs to qualify.

Arlington

• Population: 393,469
• Top 5% income lowest limit: $232,301
• Top 5% income average: $358,865
• Percent of household income by the top 5%: 19.38%
• Median household income: $71,736
• Average household income: $92,583

To become part of the top 5% in Arlington, your household will need to earn 2.5 times the city’s average household income. This might sound like a lot, but the average household in the top 5% earns nearly four times that.

Fort Worth

• Population: 924,663
• Top 5% income lowest limit: $249,803
• Top 5% income average: $406,613
• Percent of household income by the top 5%: 20.91%
• Median household income: $72,726
• Average household income: $97,226

If you want to join the ranks of the top 5% in Fort Worth, you’ll need to earn roughly a quarter million dollars per year — at minimum. Notably, the average income in this elite group is more than four times the average household income in the city.

Houston

• Population: 2.3 million
• Top 5% income lowest limit: $250,000-plus
• Top 5% income average: $537,750
• Percent of household income by the top 5%: 27.59%
• Median household income: $60,440
• Average household income: $97,458

The bottom tier of the top 5% of Houston households earns more than 2.5 times the city’s average household income. Even more extreme — the average income of top 5% of households is approximately 5.5 times that of the average household in the city.

Austin

• Population: 958,202
• Top 5% income lowest limit: $250,000-plus
• Top 5% income average: $565,822
• Percent of household income by the top 5%: 23.10%
• Median household income: $86,556
• Average household income: $122,474

Your household needs to earn at least $250,000 per year to join the ranks of the top 5% in Austin. However, the average household in this club is actually bringing in more than double that at $565,822.

Dallas

• Population: 1.3 million
• Top 5% income lowest limit: $250,000-plus
• Top 5% income average: $571,512
• Percent of household income by the top 5%: 28.01%
• Median household income: $63,985
• Average household income: $102,023

To become part of the top 5% in Dallas, your household income would need to be around 2.5 times the city’s average household income. Incredibly, the top 5% income average is more than 5.5 times that of the average household — the highest in the state.

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