Data Analyst in Georgetown, TX

The Salary Picture: Where Georgetown Stands

As a local who’s watched the data analyst scene evolve in Georgetown over the past decade, I can tell you the numbers paint a clear picture. The median salary for a Data Analyst here is $82,759/year, translating to an hourly rate of $39.79/hour. This is remarkably close to the national average of 83,360/year, putting Georgetown in a competitive position without the extreme cost pressures of Austin or Dallas. The local job market supports 192 data analyst positions, a small but stable pool that’s grown steadily.

To give you a more granular view, here’s how salaries typically break down by experience level in the Georgetown metro area:

Experience-Level Salary Breakdown

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range (Georgetown)	Notes
Entry-Level (0-2 years)	$60,000 - $72,000	Often starts in supporting roles at local government or healthcare systems.
Mid-Level (3-5 years)	$75,000 - $95,000	The sweet spot for most local employers, especially in tech and education.
Senior-Level (6-9 years)	$95,000 - $115,000	Typically requires leadership on projects and specialized tools (SQL, Python, Tableau).
Expert (10+ years)	$115,000+	Often in management or specialized roles (e.g., health informatics, financial analytics).

Local Insight: The jump from Mid to Senior is the most significant hurdle. Employers like Georgetown ISD and Baylor Scott & White look for analysts who can translate data into actionable K-12 or patient outcome recommendations. Certifications (like Google Data Analytics or Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate) can significantly boost your starting offer.

Comparison to Other Texas Cities

Georgetown’s median salary ($82,759) holds its own against other Texas metros, especially when factoring in the cost of living.

City	Median Salary	Cost of Living Index (US Avg = 100)	Real Wage Power
Georgetown	$82,759	97.6	High
Austin	$88,000	110.5	Moderate
Dallas-Fort Worth	$85,000	102.8	Moderate
Houston	$84,500	99.5	High
San Antonio	$79,000	89.2	High

While Austin pays slightly more, its cost of living is 12.8% higher than Georgetown. For a data analyst, this means your $82,759 in Georgetown stretches further, especially in housing. Dallas and Houston offer marginally higher pay but come with higher traffic, longer commutes, and urban sprawl. Georgetown offers a unique blend: proximity to Austin’s tech scene (a 30-minute drive) without the urban chaos.

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The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let’s get down to earth. A salary of $82,759 doesn’t mean you take home that amount. Here’s a realistic monthly budget breakdown for a single filer, assuming the standard deduction and Texas’s no-state-income-tax advantage.

Assumptions:

• Federal Tax (effective rate ~12%): $9,931/year
• FICA (7.65%): $6,331/year
• Health Insurance (employer-sponsored): $3,600/year
• 401(k) Contribution (5%): $4,138/year
• Total Annual Deductions: $24,000 (approx.)
• Annual Take-Home Pay: ~$58,759 or ~$4,897/month
• Average 1BR Rent: $1,220/month

Monthly Budget Breakdown (Pre-Rent)

Category	Monthly Amount	Notes
Take-Home Pay	$4,897	After taxes, benefits, and 401(k).
Rent (1BR Avg)	$1,220	25% of take-home pay—a healthy ratio.
Utilities (Electric, Water, Gas, Internet)	$180	Georgetown’s mild winters help, but AC costs in summer are real.
Car Payment/Insurance/Gas	$450	Car ownership is essential here.
Groceries & Essentials	$500	HEB is king; costs are reasonable.
Health & Entertainment	$400	Gym, streaming, dining out occasionally.
Remaining (Savings/Debt)	~$2,147	A very healthy surplus for savings or student loans.

Can they afford to buy a home? Yes, absolutely. The median home price in Georgetown is around $380,000. With a 20% down payment ($76,000), a 30-year mortgage at 6.5% would have a monthly payment of ~$1,920 (including taxes and insurance). This is higher than rent but manageable with the surplus income. Many analysts I know build their down payment in 2-3 years by aggressively saving, leveraging the lower cost of living. The Texas homestead exemption also helps reduce property taxes.

Insider Tip: Look into neighborhoods like Sun City (for older, established homes) or the emerging developments in the northeast corridor (near State Highway 130) for newer builds. The Williamson County appraisal district website is your friend for realistic tax estimates.

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The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let’s get down to earth. A salary of $82,759 doesn’t mean you take home that amount. Here’s a realistic monthly budget breakdown for a single filer, assuming the standard deduction and Texas’s no-state-income-tax advantage.

Assumptions:

• Federal Tax (effective rate ~12%): $9,931/year
• FICA (7.65%): $6,331/year
• Health Insurance (employer-sponsored): $3,600/year
• 401(k) Contribution (5%): $4,138/year
• Total Annual Deductions: $24,000 (approx.)
• Annual Take-Home Pay: ~$58,759 or ~$4,897/month
• Average 1BR Rent: $1,220/month

Monthly Budget Breakdown (Pre-Rent)

Category	Monthly Amount	Notes
Take-Home Pay	$4,897	After taxes, benefits, and 401(k).
Rent (1BR Avg)	$1,220	25% of take-home pay—a healthy ratio.
Utilities (Electric, Water, Gas, Internet)	$180	Georgetown’s mild winters help, but AC costs in summer are real.
Car Payment/Insurance/Gas	$450	Car ownership is essential here.
Groceries & Essentials	$500	HEB is king; costs are reasonable.
Health & Entertainment	$400	Gym, streaming, dining out occasionally.
Remaining (Savings/Debt)	~$2,147	A very healthy surplus for savings or student loans.

Can they afford to buy a home? Yes, absolutely. The median home price in Georgetown is around $380,000. With a 20% down payment ($76,000), a 30-year mortgage at 6.5% would have a monthly payment of ~$1,920 (including taxes and insurance). This is higher than rent but manageable with the surplus income. Many analysts I know build their down payment in 2-3 years by aggressively saving, leveraging the lower cost of living. The Texas homestead exemption also helps reduce property taxes.

Insider Tip: Look into neighborhoods like Sun City (for older, established homes) or the emerging developments in the northeast corridor (near State Highway 130) for newer builds. The Williamson County appraisal district website is your friend for realistic tax estimates.

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Where the Jobs Are: Georgetown's Major Employers

The local job market for data analysts is anchored by a mix of healthcare, education, tech, and local government. It’s not as dense as Austin, but the opportunities are stable and often come with excellent benefits.

1. Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Georgetown: The largest private employer in the county. They’re heavily invested in health informatics, needing analysts to track patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and population health trends. Hiring is steady, with a focus on Epic EHR (Electronic Health Record) data and SQL skills. They offer robust benefits, including tuition reimbursement.

2. Georgetown ISD (GISD): With over 12,000 students and growing, GISD’s data needs are massive. They hire analysts for student performance data, state accountability reporting, and budget forecasting. This is a great entry point if you’re interested in public sector work. The pace is structured, and the work-life balance is among the best in town. Check the Texas Workforce Commission job board for openings.

3. Texas A&M University's RELLIS Campus: A major anchor in nearby Bryan, but its influence is felt in Georgetown through partnerships and a growing student population. They look for analysts in academic research, grant management, and institutional effectiveness. These roles often require a higher level of education (Master’s preferred) but offer a path into higher ed analytics.

4. Sungard AS (now part of Veritas Technologies): While the tech giant’s presence has shifted, its legacy infrastructure and data centers remain. They still require analysts for client data management, system performance analytics, and cloud migration projects. This is a path for those with strong technical chops in data engineering.

5. Williamson County Government: The county itself is a major employer. Analysts work on everything from public health data (vaccination rates, disease tracking) to infrastructure planning (traffic flow, road usage) and tax analysis. These roles are mission-driven and offer incredible job security.

6. Local Tech Startups & Remote Hubs: While not as concentrated as Austin, Georgetown is seeing a trickle of tech startups, especially in e-commerce and logistics that serve the broader Central Texas market. Many Georgetown-based analysts also work remotely for Austin firms. The Georgetown Economic Development Council often lists local ventures.

Hiring Trends: There’s a noticeable shift towards analysts who can tell stories with data. It’s not enough to build a dashboard; you need to explain what it means for patient readmissions or student test scores. Proficiency in Tableau or Power BI is often listed as a requirement, not a bonus.

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Getting Licensed in TX

Good news: Texas does not have a state-specific license required to work as a Data Analyst. Your path is defined by your education, certifications, and experience.

However, to be competitive in the Georgetown market, here’s what you should consider:

• Educational Path: A bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Economics, or Business is the standard entry point. Local schools like Southwestern University (in Georgetown) offer relevant programs, and Austin’s Austin Community College (ACC) and University of Texas at Austin have robust, affordable options for degrees or certificates.
• Certifications (The Real "License"): This is where you stand out.
  • Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate (Coursera): Highly respected entry-level credential. Cost: ~$49/month. Timeline: 3-6 months.
  • Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate: Focuses on Power BI. Cost: $165. Timeline: 1-3 months of prep.
  • Tableau Desktop Specialist: Cost: $100. Timeline: 1-2 months.
• Timeline to Get Started:
  • With a relevant degree: You can start applying immediately. Tailor your resume with any class projects or internships.
  • Career Changer: Plan for 6-12 months of dedicated upskilling. Complete a certification and build a portfolio with public datasets (e.g., on Kaggle) to show your skills.

Insider Tip: For roles in healthcare (Baylor Scott & White), familiarity with HIPAA and data privacy principles is a non-negotiable plus. For public sector roles (GISD, Williamson County), experience with Tableau for Public or government reporting standards is valuable.

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Best Neighborhoods for Data Analysts

Living in Georgetown means balancing commute, lifestyle, and budget. Here’s a breakdown of key areas.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Commute	Rent Estimate (1BR)	Best For
Downtown Georgetown	Walkable, historic charm. 5-10 min drive to major employers.	$1,100 - $1,350	Young professionals who want nightlife and walkability.
Sun City (Georgetown)	55+ planned community, but many rentals available. Very quiet, safe. 10-15 min commute.	$1,000 - $1,250	Those seeking peace, community amenities (pools, golf), and lower noise.
The Views / SE Georgetown	Newer developments, family-oriented. 15-20 min commute to downtown.	$1,200 - $1,400	Analysts planning to buy a home soon; good for families.
Southwest Georgetown / Wolf Ranch	Rapidly growing, near the Wolf Ranch shopping center. 15-20 min commute.	$1,250 - $1,500	Convenience to shopping, newer apartments, easy access to I-35.
Austin Commuter Belt (NW)	Neighborhoods like Berry Creek or Sherwood. 25-35 min to Austin, 10-15 min to Georgetown core.	$1,150 - $1,300	Those who want a suburban feel and are open to hybrid/remote work.

Insider Tip: Traffic on I-35 is brutal during rush hour. If you work at a place like Baylor Scott & White or GISD (which are on the east side), living in the eastern neighborhoods (The Views, SE Georgetown) can cut your commute by 10-15 minutes compared to living on the west side. Always do a test drive during your interview process.

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The Long Game: Career Growth

Georgetown is a great place to plant your roots and grow. The 10-year job growth for data-related fields in the region is a robust 36%, well above the national average for many professions.

Specialty Premiums: To push your salary from the median $82,759 into the $100,000+ range, consider specializing:

• Healthcare Analytics: Expertise in clinical data, FHIR standards, and outcomes research can command a 15-20% premium at Baylor Scott & White.
• Education Analytics: Deep knowledge of state accountability systems (TEA - Texas Education Agency) and predictive modeling for student success is niche and valuable for GISD.
• Geospatial Data Analysis: With Williamson County’s growth, analysts who can layer demographic, traffic, and zoning data are in high demand for urban planning.

Advancement Paths:

1. Individual Contributor: Data Analyst -> Senior Data Analyst -> Data Scientist / Analytics Engineer.
2. Management: Data Analyst -> Analytics Manager -> Director of Business Intelligence.
3. Hybrid Paths: Many move into adjacent fields like Product Management or Operations, using their data lens to drive strategy.

10-Year Outlook: The trend is toward more automation of routine reporting, which means analysts who can focus on advanced analytics (predictive modeling, A/B testing, strategic recommendations) will be most secure. The growth of Austin’s tech ecosystem will continue to spill over, creating more remote and hybrid opportunities for Georgetown residents.

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The Verdict: Is Georgetown Right for You?

Pros	Cons
High Purchasing Power: $82,759 feels like $95,000+ in Austin due to lower rent and housing costs.	Limited Senior-Level Roles: The ceiling can be lower than in Austin; you may need to commute or work remotely to reach the highest salary tiers.
Stable, Mission-Driven Employers: Healthcare, education, and government offer excellent benefits and job security.	Car-Dependent: Public transit is minimal. You will need a reliable car.
Quality of Life: Safe, family-friendly, with great outdoor amenities (Blue Hole Park, Lake Georgetown).	Social Scene is Quieter: Nightlife and urban amenities are in Austin. You'll need to be comfortable with a slower pace.
Proximity to Austin: Easy access to a major tech hub for networking and occasional events without the Austin rent.	Competitive Entry-Level Market: With 192 jobs, it's a tight market. You need a strong portfolio to stand out.
No State Income Tax: More take-home pay, which is a direct financial boost.	Texas-Specific Downsides: Property taxes can be high without the homestead exemption. Summers are very hot.

Final Recommendation: Georgetown is an excellent choice for Data Analysts who value work-life balance, affordability, and stability. It’s ideal for mid-career professionals looking to buy a home, families, or those who want