Salaries & Take-Home Pay in McAllen, Texas
McAllen is the retail capital of the Rio Grande Valley, drawing shoppers from across the US-Mexico border. Healthcare and education are the largest employer sectors. Its very low cost of living makes each dollar of net pay stretch significantly further.
The average salary in McAllen is approximately $43,000/year. Because Texas has no state income tax, McAllen workers keep significantly more of their paycheck than counterparts in high-tax states. On the average McAllen salary, a single filer owes an estimated $2,980 in federal income tax (6.9% effective rate) plus $2,666 Social Security and $624 Medicare — a combined total of ~$6,270.
This leaves an estimated annual take-home of $36,731 — approximately $3,061/month or $1,413 per bi-weekly paycheck (before optional 401k and health insurance deductions).
Typical McAllen Salary Breakdown (single filer, no extra deductions)
Industries & Employers in McAllen
McAllen's economy is driven by Retail, Healthcare, Education, International Trade. Major employers include McAllen Medical Center, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, H-E-B, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance. 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 McAllen
McAllen's cost of living is very low — well below the national average. This makes McAllen one of the most affordable cities in Texas. Your $36,731 take-home pay has substantially greater purchasing power here than the same net salary in high-cost metros — housing, groceries, and transportation all trend below the US average.