TechnologyUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Director of Engineering Salary
in Dallas, TX

Lead engineering teams, set technical direction, and drive product development. Median salary in Dallas: $241K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$241K
per year
Take-home: $170K

Salary range in Dallas

Entry level (25th)$188,000
Median (50th)$241,000
Senior (75th)$305,000
Top earner (90th)$386,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Dallas, Texas. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial Β· How we calculate this β†’

Help build this dataset. Add your own Director of Engineering salary so other workers in Dallas have better numbers to work with.
Submit yours β†’

What the numbers say for Dallas

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above β€” specific to this role and city.

12% premium vs national median

Director of Engineerings in Dallas earn approximately 12% higher than the US national median for this role β€” a $26,000 premium on annual base salary. This reflects Dallas's position as a higher-cost labor market where employers must match local wage norms.

Cost-of-living adjusted picture

Adjusted for Dallas's cost-of-living index (96), the median Director of Engineering salary buys the equivalent of $251,042 in a US-average-cost city. That's $36,042 more purchasing power than the national median β€” a meaningful real-wage advantage.

No state income tax β€” $22K effective edge

Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $22,413 per year at this salary level compared to a California Director of Engineering on the same gross pay. A Dallas Director of Engineering would need to earn $265,711 in California to net the same take-home.

Key facts for Dallas

Median salary
$241K
annual
Take-home pay
$170K
after fed/state tax
COL index
96
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$1,380
per month
YoY growth
+6.5%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Dallas Director of Engineering to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $241K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” Dallas

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Director of Engineering salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$202K$220K$238K$255K$273K201920212023202520272029
2026
$247K
projected
2027
$253K
projected
2028
$260K
projected
2029
$266K
projected
2030
$273K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$241,000+$0
2028 projected$241,000+$0
2029 projected$241,000+$0
2030 projected$241,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

Full salary breakdown & negotiation guide

Unlock the full salary report + negotiation email template

Enter your email for free access. We'll send salary market updates β€” unsubscribe anytime.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Director of Engineering Salary in Dallas, Texas: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Director of Engineering salary in Dallas, TX is $241,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Dallas–TX metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Director of Engineering in Dallas

Entry-level Director of Engineerings in Dallas with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $188,000 and $241,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $241,000 to $305,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $305,000 to $386,000 or more.

Cost of living in Dallas for Director of Engineerings

Dallas has a cost of living index of 96 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 4% further in Dallas than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax β€” giving Dallas-based Director of Engineerings an immediate 5–7% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Director of Engineering

Bachelor's in CS or Engineering; 10+ years engineering; management experience. This role is 65% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Dallas-based professionals.

Director of Engineering salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Dallas (current)$241K96
Houston$226K91
San Antonio$198K87
Austin$262K110
Fort Worth$226K93
El Paso$176K82