Platform

Platform Overview

Why Workstream

Integrations

Fully Supported

Product

Hiring

Active sourcing

Applicant Tracking

Multilingual hiring

Screening

Payroll

Full-Service Payroll

Employee Experience

Full-Service Setup

Team View

Secure records

Documents & Signatures

Onboarding

Engagement

Employee Surveys

Communication

Time & Scheduling

Time clock

Shift Scheduling

Featured Reads

Webinar

For our customers: Product roadmap sneak peek

Watch now

Restaurant

Help restaurant and franchise owners hire, pay, and retain your hourly team.

Restaurant Payroll 101

Learn how to tackle the hardest aspects of paying restaurant workers from taxes and tip reporting to labor law compliance.

Master hourly pay

HOURLY WAGE INDEX

Let’s talk wages in Austin

Back to home Back to Texas

$15

What is the minimum wage in Austin?

The minimum wage in Austin, Texas is currently $15.00 per hour. This is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, and it is also higher than the average minimum wage in the state of Texas, which is $10.50 per hour. The minimum wage in Austin has been increasing gradually over the past few years. In 2018, the minimum wage in Austin was $10.50 per hour. It was then increased to $12.00 per hour in 2019, and to $15.00 per hour in 2022. The increase in the minimum wage in Austin is due to a number of factors, including the rising cost of living in the city.

Austin is a relatively expensive city, and the minimum wage increase is intended to help low-wage workers make ends meet. The minimum wage increase has been met with mixed reactions. Some people support the increase, arguing that it is necessary to help low-wage workers. Others oppose the increase, arguing that it will lead to job losses and higher prices.

$20

What is the living wage in Austin?

A livable wage in Austin is estimated to be $20.00 per hour for a single adult with no children. This means that a worker earning $20.00 per hour would be able to afford basic necessities such as housing, food, transportation, and healthcare. The livable wage in Austin is higher than the minimum wage because the cost of living in Austin is also higher. Austin is a relatively expensive city, and the livable wage reflects the cost of living in the city.

Wages aren’t everything!

While pay is one of the main factors that hourly employees consider when choosing to join (or stay at) a company, it’s not the end all be all. Research shows that advancement opportunities, supportive management, and schedule flexibility are all incredibly important as well.

Want to learn more about this trend? We dive deep into the data behind which perks and benefits matter most to hourly workers. Check out our full conversation with expert Sara Wasserteil of Cara Collective.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between gross wages and net wages?

It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.

What is a good hourly wage?

This question is a difficult one to answer, as a "good hourly wage" is highly subjective according to experience, work responsibilities, cost of living, and other factors. We recommend using Hourly Wage Index data as a starting point. Once you have established a baseline for certain positions, do further research into similar businesses in your area.

Lastly, consider surveying your employees. They're the best resource to help you know what is a good hourly wage, what competitive pay looks like in your location, and how competitive wages change in your industry over time.

Offering competitive pay is one of my top priorities—what other resources do you have that might help?

We know that getting applicants to pay attention to your business can be extremely challenging, and that offering competitive pay is a huge part of that. Wages aren’t everything, however! Applicant experience is another important factor that can help set you apart from your competition. A few examples include:

Short, easy to understand job descriptions
Mobile-friendliness
Quick communication
Streamlined interview stages

Resources

Learn more about hiring and
retaining the hourly workforce

GUIDE

4 secrets to increasing loyalty among today’s deskless workforce

Get the guide

HIRING HACKS

Get actionable tips in this series of quick videos

Watch now

GUIDE

Checking the box on hiring and retention

Download the packet

We're here to help!

A Workstream hiring specialist can help you identify high impact ways to improve your applicant experience, and even help you determine what is a good hourly wage for your location and business.