Financial Analyst in Round Rock, TX

The Salary Picture: Where Round Rock Stands

As a local, I can tell you that Round Rock’s financial analyst market is a unique beast. It’s not Austin’s hyper-competitive startup scene, but it’s deeply tied to the tech and healthcare giants that populate the region. The data shows a solid, stable market for the right candidates.

The median salary for a Financial Analyst in Round Rock is $98,297/year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.26/hour. This is slightly below the national average of $99,010/year, a common reality for many Texas cities outside of major coastal hubs. However, the local cost of living more than compensates for this slight differential. The metro area, which includes Austin and its suburbs, has a robust 263 jobs listed for Financial Analysts, with a projected 10-year job growth of 9%. This isn't explosive growth, but it’s consistent and indicates a stable demand for analytical talent.

To give you a clearer picture of how experience translates to pay, here’s a realistic breakdown based on local market trends and broader Texas averages:

Experience Level	Typical Title	Estimated Annual Salary Range (Round Rock)
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)	Junior Analyst, Financial Analyst I	$65,000 - $80,000
Mid-Level (3-5 yrs)	Financial Analyst, Senior Analyst	$85,000 - $110,000
Senior (5-10 yrs)	Lead Analyst, Finance Manager	$110,000 - $135,000
Expert (10+ yrs)	Director, VP of Finance, FP&A Manager	$135,000 - $165,000+

Insider Tip: The jump from Mid-Level to Senior is where you see the most significant salary increase. Companies like Dell and Emerson are willing to pay a premium ($10k-$15k above median) for analysts with proven experience in their specific sectors (e.g., semiconductor supply chain, healthcare revenue cycle).

Compared to Other Texas Cities:
Round Rock sits comfortably in the middle of the Texas financial analyst market. It’s more affordable than Austin ($99,500 median) while offering a comparable job market. Dallas-Fort Worth ($97,800 median) has more volume but also higher congestion and a slightly different corporate mix. Houston ($96,500 median) is often tied more to energy and healthcare. For analysts seeking a balance of tech/healthcare exposure without Austin's intense housing costs, Round Rock is a strategic choice.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let’s get real about your budget. A $98,297 salary in Texas sounds great, but Texas has no state income tax. However, federal taxes and local costs will take a significant chunk. Here’s a conservative monthly breakdown for a single filer (using 2023 tax brackets and standard deductions):

• Gross Monthly Income: $8,191
• Federal Tax (Est.): ~$1,520
• FICA (7.65%): ~$627
• Net Monthly Take-Home: ~$6,044

Now, let's factor in the local cost of living. The average 1BR rent in Round Rock is $1,635/month, and the Cost of Living Index is 97.6 (US avg = 100). This means your money goes slightly further here than the national average.

Monthly Budget Breakdown (Net Income: $6,044):

• Housing (1BR Rent): $1,635 (27% of take-home)
• Utilities (Electric, Gas, Internet): $225
• Groceries & Household: $450
• Transportation (Car Payment/Gas/Insurance): $600
• Health Insurance (Employer Share): $250
• Discretionary/Savings/401k: $2,884

This budget is healthy. Spending only 27% of your take-home on rent leaves a substantial amount for savings, debt repayment, or lifestyle. Many locals I know here opt for a slightly older apartment complex in the Forest Creek area to keep rent closer to $1,450, freeing up another $185/month.

Can they afford to buy a home?
The median home price in Round Rock is hovering around $425,000. With a 20% down payment ($85,000), a 30-year mortgage at 7% would have a monthly payment of roughly $2,260 (including taxes and insurance). That’s about 37% of your net income, which is on the higher end of what's considered comfortable. It’s doable, especially with dual income or a few years of saving, but it’s tight for a single person on the median salary. Most analysts in their first 3-5 years here rent in Round Rock or Pflugerville (just south) before buying in Hutto or Taylor (to the east) where prices are lower.

Where the Jobs Are: Round Rock's Major Employers

Round Rock’s economy is anchored by a few key sectors: tech hardware, healthcare, and manufacturing. Your job search should be laser-focused on these employers and their ecosystems.

1. Dell Technologies (Headquarters): The 800-pound gorilla. Dell hires hundreds of financial analysts for roles in FP&A, supply chain finance, and the numerous internal service centers. They value analysts with strong Excel and ERP (like SAP) skills. Hiring is constant but competitive. Insider Tip: Dell’s internal mobility is huge. Many analysts start in one division (e.g., Client Solutions) and move to another (e.g., Infrastructure Solutions Group) after 2-3 years.

2. Ascension Seton Round Rock: A major part of the healthcare network. They need analysts for revenue cycle management, budgeting for clinical departments, and grant reporting. The work is data-heavy, requiring attention to detail with patient and payer data. Insider Tip: Healthcare finance is a stable, recession-proof niche. Experience here is highly transferable.

3. Emerson (formerly Emerson Process Management): A global tech and engineering company with a massive campus in Round Rock. They hire financial analysts for project accounting, cost analysis, and corporate reporting. The work is more manufacturing/engineering-focused than pure tech. Insider Tip: Emerson looks for analysts who understand project-based finance and can work with engineers—a unique skill combo.

4. Texas State University (Round Rock Campus): While smaller than the main campus, the Round Rock branch has administrative and operational budgets needing oversight. Roles here often blend traditional finance with grant management and public sector budgeting. Insider Tip: State university jobs offer excellent benefits (including a pension) but salaries at the analyst level can be slightly below the median.

5. Vrbo (Expedia Group): While headquartered in Austin, Vrbo has a significant presence in the Round Rock area and its employees often live here. They hire analysts for marketplace finance, pricing strategy, and business unit FP&A. Insider Tip: These roles are the most lucrative in the area, often paying $10k-$20k above the median for mid-level roles due to the competitive tech talent war with Austin.

6. St. David’s HealthCare (Round Rock Medical Center): Another major healthcare provider. Similar to Ascension, roles are in revenue cycle, operational budgets, and capital expenditure planning. Hiring Trend: Post-pandemic, there's a push for analysts who can model patient volume and cost-per-case scenarios.

Hiring Trend: There's a noticeable shift towards analysts who are not just number-crunchers but strategic partners. Proficiency in tools like Tableau/Power BI for visualization and SQL for data extraction is becoming a baseline expectation, not a bonus.

Getting Licensed in TX

For Financial Analysts, the primary professional certification is the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, administered by the CFA Institute. Texas has no state-specific license for financial analysts (unlike for CPAs or Investment Advisors).

• Requirements: To earn the CFA charter, you must:

  1. Pass three rigorous exam levels (I, II, III).
  2. Have 4,000 hours of qualified work experience (over a minimum of 36 months).
  3. Submit 2-3 professional references.
  4. Become a member of the CFA Society Austin (the local chapter).

• Costs: This is a significant investment.

  • Enrollment Fee: $350 (one-time).
  • Exam Registration: $945 - $1,390 per exam (early vs. standard registration). For all three levels, expect to pay $3,500 - $4,500 in exam fees alone.
  • Study Materials: From CFA Institute or third-party providers (Kaplan, Schweser), add $500 - $1,000 per level.
  • Total Estimated Cost: $5,000 - $8,000 over 3-5 years.

• Timeline: The CFA is a marathon. Most candidates take 3-4 years to complete all three levels while working full-time. Exams are offered at testing centers in Austin (a 30-minute drive) and other major cities. Insider Tip: The local CFA Society Austin hosts regular study groups and networking events in the Round Rock/Austin area. Joining early is a great way to find mentors.

Note on CPA: If you're considering a path that blends accounting with analysis, becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is another strong credential. The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy oversees this. It requires passing the Uniform CPA Exam and meeting state-specific education (150 semester hours) and experience requirements.

Best Neighborhoods for Financial Analysts

Where you live in Round Rock drastically changes your commute and lifestyle. Here’s a local’s guide:

Neighborhood	Vibe & Commute	Avg. 1BR Rent	Best For
Forest Creek	Established, quiet, family-friendly. 15-25 min commute to major employers. Tree-lined streets, older apartments.	$1,450 - $1,600	Analysts seeking a peaceful, residential feel without a long drive.
The Round Rock (Downtown)	Walkable, trendy, younger crowd. 10-15 min commute to most offices. Near restaurants and bars.	$1,700 - $1,900	Those who want a social life, shorter commute, and don't mind older buildings.
Stone Creek	Newer, master-planned. 20-30 min commute. Modern amenities, pools, gyms.	$1,650 - $1,850	Professionals who prioritize modern amenities and are okay with a bit more driving.
Setter on the Green	Upscale, golf course community. 15-25 min commute. More townhomes/condos.	$1,800 - $2,100	Mid-to-senior level analysts with a higher budget for a premium living space.
Village at Round Rock (Pflugerville Border)	Convenient access to both Round Rock and Austin (via I-35). 10-20 min commute.	$1,550 - $1,750	Analysts who work in south Round Rock or occasionally need to go into Austin.

Insider Tip: Traffic on I-35 is notoriously bad. If you work at Dell or Emerson, consider living north or west of them to avoid the worst of the southbound morning and northbound evening traffic. Neighborhoods like Forest Creek and Stone Creek are ideal for this.

The Long Game: Career Growth

In Round Rock, your career path will likely follow one of two tracks: the Corporate Ladder or the Specialist Niche.

• Specialty Premiums: You can command a salary premium by developing specialized skills:

  • Healthcare Finance (Ascension, St. David’s): +5-10% over generalist roles.
  • Supply Chain Finance (Dell, Emerson): +5-10%. Critical for managing raw material and logistics costs.
  • Data Analytics/BI: +10-15%. Analysts who can build financial models in Tableau or write SQL queries to pull data directly from databases are gold.

• Advancement Paths:

  • Mid-Level: You’ll move from data gathering to owning your own forecasts and business reviews.
  • Senior/Manager: You’ll start managing junior analysts, presenting to directors, and leading budget cycles.
  • Director/VP: At this level (often at Dell or Emerson), you’re not just analyzing numbers but driving business strategy. You’re a partner to the operational leaders.

• 10-Year Outlook: The 9% job growth is promising. The Austin metro’s expansion will continue to ripple north into Round Rock. However, the nature of the job will evolve. Automation of basic reporting will push analysts into more strategic, high-value work. The analysts who thrive will be those who can tell a story with data and influence business decisions. The local market will always have demand for those who understand the specific financial drivers of tech hardware and healthcare—two sectors deeply embedded in Central Texas.

The Verdict: Is Round Rock Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Strong, stable employer base (Dell, healthcare).	Slightly below national salary average for the role.
Significantly lower cost of living than Austin, with easy access.	Traffic on I-35 can be a major daily frustration.
No state income tax boosts your take-home pay.	Limited nightlife/culture compared to Austin; it's a suburb.
Excellent public schools (Round Rock ISD) for future planning.	Housing prices are rising quickly, eroding affordability.
Good work-life balance compared to high-pressure finance hubs.	Professional network is smaller than in downtown Austin.

Final Recommendation:
Round Rock is an excellent choice for financial analysts who value stability, affordability, and a family-friendly environment. It’s ideal for mid-career professionals looking to buy a home and build a long-term career with major, established companies. It’s less ideal for those seeking the cutting-edge startup scene, the highest possible salaries, or a vibrant, walkable urban core. If your goal is to work for a tech giant like Dell or a major healthcare provider while building a solid financial foundation, Round Rock is a strategic and practical move.

FAQs

1. Is it necessary to live in Round Rock to work there?
No. Many analysts live in Pflugerville (south), Cedar Park (west), or even north Austin. Your commute will depend on your office location. Living in Austin proper, however, would add a significant and often stressful commute via I-35, especially during rush hour.

2. How competitive is the job market for entry-level analysts?
It’s moderately competitive. You’ll be competing with recent graduates from Texas State, UT Austin, and local community colleges. Having an internship, basic SQL skills, or financial modeling experience on your résumé will make you stand out. The 263 jobs in the metro give you options, but the best roles at Dell or Vrbo attract top candidates.

3. What’s the professional networking scene like?
It’s active but requires effort. The CFA Society Austin is the premier organization for serious analysts. They host events in Austin, which is an easy drive. Local industry groups (e.g., Healthcare Financial Management Association) also have chapters. Insider Tip: LinkedIn is huge here. Connect with analysts and managers at your target companies; many are open to informational interviews.

4. Can I get a job here without a CFA or CPA?
Absolutely. The CFA is a differentiator, not a requirement. Most entry and mid-level roles prioritize a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Economics, plus strong analytical skills. A CPA is more critical if you’re looking at roles with heavy accounting/audit components, but many pure financial analysts never get it. On-the-job experience and certifications in specific software (like Tableau) are often more valuable in the hiring process.

5. What’s the best way to prepare for a move here?

1. Visit: Spend a weekend driving the neighborhoods and commuting to potential job sites at 8 AM and 5 PM.
2. Research Companies: Go beyond Dell. Look at the websites of Ascension, Emerson, and local investment firms.
3. Update Your Skills: Take a short online course in SQL or Power BI. It’s a low-cost, high-impact way to boost your résumé.
4. Budget Realistically: Use the rent and salary data above to create a precise monthly budget. Don’t forget to factor in a car (public transit is limited) and higher summer electricity bills.