๐Ÿ’ฐ COL Index: 91 โ€” Below Avg Cost

Salaries in San Angelo, TX

What every job actually pays โ€” cost-of-living adjusted

Updated: February 2026 ยท 40 occupations ยท BLS + Census data

Avg. Salary
$67,563
across 40 roles
COL-Adjusted Avg
$74,327
real purchasing power
Top Paying Role
Marketing Manager
$153,316
1BR Rent
$927
median monthly

Hereโ€™s a fun fact about San Angelo you wonโ€™t see on a tourism brochure: the cityโ€™s median household income sits at $52,048, but when you factor in its cost of livingโ€”90.9% of the national averageโ€”your paycheck actually stretches further than youโ€™d think. Itโ€™s not a place where youโ€™ll get rich overnight, but itโ€™s quietly one of the better bargains in Texas for folks who arenโ€™t chasing Wall Street salaries.

Letโ€™s talk real purchasing power. That $927 average rent for a one-bedroom isnโ€™t just cheaper than Austin or Dallas; itโ€™s a financial relief valve. With a COL index 9% below the U.S. average, a $67,563 salary here feels more like $74,327 in a typical American city. For a lot of people, that means owning a home is less of a fantasy and more of a realistic next step.

San Angeloโ€™s economy leans hard on sectors like healthcare, education, and government. Youโ€™ve got the Goodfellow Air Force Base as a huge employer, and Shannon Medical Center is the big name in healthcare. The tech and marketing scene is smaller but growing, and construction has been steady thanks to ongoing local development. If youโ€™re in software development or project management, youโ€™ll find opportunities, but theyโ€™re not as plentiful as in a major metro.

Hereโ€™s my honest take: wages here arenโ€™t exploding, but theyโ€™re also not being eaten alive by inflation like in bigger cities. The unemployment rate is a healthy 4.0%, and with only 24.9% of the population holding a bachelorโ€™s degree, thereโ€™s a clear opening for skilled professionals to command a premium. Itโ€™s a city that rewards specialization. For a family or a remote worker with a solid salary, San Angelo offers a high quality of life without the financial strain. But if youโ€™re in a field that pays top dollar elsewhere, you might feel the salary gap.

The data below breaks it all downโ€”what you can earn, how far that money goes, and which roles are actually worth the move.

๐Ÿ† Top 5 Highest-Paying Jobs in San Angelo

Ranked by raw salary. See COL-adjusted figures in the full table below.

๐Ÿฅ‡ -3% vs national

Marketing Manager

$153,316
๐Ÿ’ก COL-Adjusted $168,664
โฑ Hourly $73.71/hr
๐Ÿ“ˆ Job Growth +8.0%
๐Ÿ‘ฅ Jobs Here 194
๐Ÿฅˆ -3% vs national

Pharmacist

$132,316
๐Ÿ’ก COL-Adjusted $145,562
โฑ Hourly $63.61/hr
๐Ÿ“ˆ Job Growth -3.0%
๐Ÿ‘ฅ Jobs Here 194
๐Ÿฅ‰ -3% vs national

Software Developer

$123,785
๐Ÿ’ก COL-Adjusted $136,177
โฑ Hourly $59.51/hr
๐Ÿ“ˆ Job Growth +17.0%
๐Ÿ‘ฅ Jobs Here 583
4๏ธโƒฃ -3% vs national

Construction Manager

$105,255
๐Ÿ’ก COL-Adjusted $115,792
โฑ Hourly $50.60/hr
๐Ÿ“ˆ Job Growth +8.0%
๐Ÿ‘ฅ Jobs Here 194
5๏ธโƒฃ -3% vs national

Project Manager

$98,515
๐Ÿ’ก COL-Adjusted $108,377
โฑ Hourly $47.36/hr
๐Ÿ“ˆ Job Growth +6.0%
๐Ÿ‘ฅ Jobs Here 194

๐Ÿ“‹ Complete Salary Guide โ€” All 40 Occupations in San Angelo

COL-Adjusted Salary = Raw salary divided by the cost of living index (91/100). Higher = more real purchasing power. This city's COL is below the US average.

# Occupation โ†• Raw Salary โ†•
1 Marketing Manager $153,316
2 Pharmacist $132,316
3 Software Developer $123,785
4 Construction Manager $105,255
5 Project Manager $98,515
6 Physical Therapist $96,987
7 Financial Analyst $96,307
8 Web Developer $90,217
9 Dental Hygienist $85,140
10 Accountant $83,730
11 Registered Nurse $83,720
12 Data Analyst $81,084
13 Police Officer $72,864
14 Human Resources Specialist $65,803
15 Elementary School Teacher $61,931
16 Plumber $61,620
17 Paralegal $61,036
18 Electrician $59,869
19 Real Estate Agent $59,801
20 Graphic Designer $59,665
21 Firefighter $55,560
22 Carpenter $55,366
23 HVAC Technician $54,150
24 Heavy Truck Driver $51,640
25 Loan Officer $48,634
26 Insurance Agent $48,634
27 Nursing Assistant (CNA) $48,634
28 Dental Assistant $48,634
29 Pharmacy Technician $48,634
30 Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) $48,634
31 Nail Technician $48,634
32 Cosmetologist $48,634
33 Personal Trainer $48,634
34 Chef/Head Cook $48,634
35 Auto Mechanic $48,634
36 Veterinary Technician $48,634
37 Social Worker $48,634
38 Welder $48,236
39 Medical Assistant $37,225
40 Security Guard $35,153

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics. COL Index from C2ER/ACCRA.

๐Ÿ™๏ธ Living Costs in San Angelo

๐Ÿ 
1BR Rent
$927/mo
๐Ÿก
2BR Rent
$1,149/mo
๐Ÿ˜๏ธ
Median Home
$275,000
๐Ÿ“‰
Unemployment
4.0%
๐Ÿ’ณ
Median Income
$52,048
๐ŸŽ“
College Educated
25%
๐Ÿšถ
Walk Score
35/100
๐Ÿ“Š
Cost of Living
91
Below Avg Cost

๐Ÿงฎ Can You Afford to Live in San Angelo?

Use our Salary Reality Check to see if your specific income covers housing, taxes, and expenses in San Angelo. Enter your salary and see exactly how far your money goes.

โ“ San Angelo Salary FAQ

What is the average salary in San Angelo, TX?

โ–ผ
The average salary across 40 occupations in San Angelo is $67,563 (2026). This is higher than the local median household income of $52,048. Insight: The average salary is 29% above the median household income.

What jobs pay the most in San Angelo?

โ–ผ
The highest paying role in San Angelo is Marketing Manager at $153,316 (2026). This is over twice the average salary across 40 occupations of $67,563. Insight: The top role earns 127% more than the local average.

Is San Angelo affordable on a Marketing Manager salary?

โ–ผ
A Marketing Manager salary of $153,316 is highly affordable in San Angelo (2026). The cost of living index is 90.9, and 1BR rent is $927/month. Insight: The salary is 13.5x the annual rent for a 1BR.

How does San Angelo's cost of living affect my paycheck?

โ–ผ
San Angelo's cost of living index is 90.9 (2026), meaning expenses are 9.1% below the national average. A $67,563 average salary has more purchasing power here than in higher-cost areas. Insight: Your paycheck buys about 10% more goods and services than the U.S. average.

What salary do you need to live comfortably in San Angelo?

โ–ผ
A comfortable living salary in San Angelo is roughly $65,000โ€“$75,000 (2026), based on the average salary of $67,563. This covers 1BR rent of $927/month plus other expenses given the COL index of 90.9. Insight: The average salary of $67,563 aligns with a comfortable budget in this market.

๐Ÿ“ Editor's Verdict: Is San Angelo Worth It?

Iโ€™m not going to sugarcoat it: San Angelo isnโ€™t a gold rush, but itโ€™s a smart grind if you know where to stand. The average salary ($67,563) looks modest until you factor in the cost of living (index 90.9) and rent ($927). That stretches. And if youโ€™re a Marketing Manager, the math singsโ€”$153,316 raw, $168,664 adjusted. For everyone else, itโ€™s steady, not spectacular.

Who wins here? Trades and healthcare, hands down. The base pay plus low overhead adds up fast, and demand doesnโ€™t vanish when the oil dips. Tech? Possible, but youโ€™ll need remote options or a niche role to hit big numbers.

My verdict: San Angelo is worth it financially if you avoid lifestyle creep and lean into the cost-of-living advantage. If youโ€™re chasing glory or a coastal resume, look elsewhere.

One piece of advice: secure a job before you move and negotiate hardโ€”this market rewards the prepared, not the patient.

Explore San Angelo Further