CEO Salary: New York vs AustinNet Take-Home Comparison 2026
A Senior CEO in SaaS earns around $679K gross total compensation in New York and $570K in Austin based on Torchinsky Executive Consulting benchmarks. After tax, the difference is $476 per year in favor of Austin — or $2,380 over a typical 5-year tenure.
🇺🇸New York / USA
Gross
$679K
Net after tax
$385K
🇺🇸Austin / USA
Gross
$570K
Net after tax
$385K
Austin vs New York — net annual difference
+$476 / year
Over 5-year tenure
+$2,380
CEO compensation by seniority level
| Seniority | Total Comp | New York Net | Austin Net | Δ |
|---|
| Lead / SVP CEO | $679K | $385K | $385K | +$0K |
Adjust role, seniority, industry, and region. Instant tax + net take-home across 48 jurisdictions.
Why the gap exists
The New York ↔ Austin comparison became a major executive relocation story during and after the pandemic, driven by Texas's zero state income tax, lower housing costs, and the migration of tech companies (Oracle, Tesla, Indeed, and many venture-backed startups) to the Austin metro. For a senior executive earning $300K, the Texas 0% state tax vs. New York's combined 9–10% state + city rate translates to roughly 10 percentage points of effective tax savings — meaningful but not as dramatic as the London vs. Dubai gap because federal tax (the largest portion of US executive tax) applies identically in both cities.
For a Senior CEO specifically, the gross compensation in New York is approximately $679K vs $570K in Austin. After applying effective tax rates of 43.4% (New York) and 32.5% (Austin), the net take-home lands at $385K and $385K respectively — a gap of $476 per year favoring Austin.
What to factor in beyond raw tax numbers: Austin's compensation benchmarks for senior roles have risen sharply since 2020 but typically remain 10–20% below New York for comparable positions, which partially offsets the tax advantage. Housing costs in Austin are roughly one-third of Manhattan for comparable quality of life. The main tradeoffs: Austin has a narrower executive job market (fewer alternative employers if a role doesn't work out), less institutional finance density, and a younger tech ecosystem. For executives with kids, Austin's public schools are stronger than NYC's, and private school costs are lower.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Senior CEO earn in New York?
A Senior CEO in SaaS earns around $679K in total compensation (base + bonus) in New York based on Torchinsky Executive Consulting data. After USA income tax and social contributions, this works out to approximately $385K net take-home per year.
Is Austin better than New York for a CEO salary?
On net take-home, yes: a Senior CEO on an equivalent package nets $476 more per year in Austin. The gap is driven primarily by the tax differential. However, raw net isn't the only factor — cost of living, career optionality, and quality-of-life preferences should also weigh into the decision.
What's the effective tax rate for a CEO earning $679K in New York?
At $679K gross, a Senior CEO in New York pays approximately 43.4% in combined income tax and employee social contributions. This figure excludes personal deductions, reliefs, and expatriate tax schemes (such as UK non-dom status, Netherlands 30% ruling, or Portugal NHR).
What's the effective tax rate for a CEO earning $570K in Austin?
At $570K gross, a Senior CEO in Austin pays approximately 32.5% in combined income tax and employee social contributions. This figure excludes personal deductions, reliefs, and expatriate tax schemes.
Related comparisons
By TopHeads
Get found by the right companies
Private executive platform. Anonymous profiles. 70K+ network.
Personally curated by Mike Torchinsky, 25 years in executive search.
Create your profile →