Salaries & Take-Home Pay in Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the economic center of the Texas Panhandle. The Pantex nuclear weapons plant (a major federal employer), cattle industry, and growing renewable energy sector provide stable, well-paying jobs in a city with a very low cost of living.
The average salary in Amarillo is approximately $51,000/year. Because Texas has no state income tax, Amarillo workers keep significantly more of their paycheck than counterparts in high-tax states. On the average Amarillo salary, a single filer owes an estimated $3,940 in federal income tax (7.7% effective rate) plus $3,162 Social Security and $740 Medicare — a combined total of ~$7,842.
This leaves an estimated annual take-home of $43,159 — approximately $3,597/month or $1,660 per bi-weekly paycheck (before optional 401k and health insurance deductions).
Typical Amarillo Salary Breakdown (single filer, no extra deductions)
Industries & Employers in Amarillo
Amarillo's economy is driven by Agriculture, Energy, Healthcare, Transportation. Major employers include BSA Health System, Tyson Foods, Pantex Plant, BNSF Railway, Xcel Energy. These industries shape both the overall compensation landscape and the types of benefits packages — 401(k) matching, employer health insurance, stock options — available to workers.
Cost of Living in Amarillo
Amarillo's cost of living is low — below the national average. Amarillo's below-average cost of living means your $43,159 annual take-home goes further than in most US cities. Combine that with zero Texas state income tax, and residents keep significantly more of their earnings than in high-tax, high-cost alternatives.