Web Developer in Wichita Falls, TX

The Salary Picture: Where Wichita Falls Stands

If you're a web developer eyeing Wichita Falls, the first question is almost always about the paycheck. Let's cut right to the numbers. The median salary for a web developer in the Wichita Falls metro area is $89,661/year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.11/hour. This is slightly below the national average of $92,750/year, but the context of living costs tells a different story. The local job market supports 205 web developer positions, and the 10-year job growth projection is a solid 16%, indicating a stable, if not explosive, demand.

To give you a clearer picture of the career ladder, here’s a typical experience-level breakdown. These are estimates based on local market data and the provided median, reflecting what you might expect when negotiating an offer.

Experience Level	Estimated Years of Experience	Estimated Salary Range (Wichita Falls)
Entry-Level	0-2 years	$58,000 - $72,000
Mid-Level	3-5 years	$72,000 - $95,000
Senior-Level	5-10 years	$95,000 - $120,000
Expert/Lead	10+ years	$120,000+

Insider Tip: The jump from Mid to Senior is where you'll see the most significant leverage, especially if you can demonstrate full-stack capabilities (both front-end and back-end). Local employers, from healthcare to manufacturing, are increasingly valuing developers who can handle entire projects, not just one stack.

When you compare this to other Texas cities, the trade-off becomes clear. You might see a higher base salary in Austin (often $105,000+ for a mid-level dev), but the cost of living in Wichita Falls is 11.1% below the national average (Cost of Living Index: 88.9). A $89,661 salary here stretches much further than the same amount in Dallas or Houston. For a developer who values purchasing power and a lower-stress lifestyle, the math often works in Wichita Falls' favor.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let's get practical. What does a $89,661 salary actually feel like in your pocket each month? We'll assume you're single, filing as a single filer, and taking the standard deduction for a rough estimate.

• Gross Annual Salary: $89,661
• Estimated Annual Federal Tax: ~$15,200
• Estimated Annual State Tax (Texas has no state income tax): $0
• Social Security & Medicare (FICA): ~$6,850
• Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay: ~$67,611
• Monthly Take-Home Pay: ~$5,634

Now, let's layer in the rent. The average 1-bedroom apartment in Wichita Falls costs $843/month. If you spend that on rent, your monthly budget looks like this:

• Monthly Take-Home: $5,634
• Rent (-$843): $4,791
• Remaining for Utilities, Groceries, Car, Insurance, Entertainment, and Savings: $4,791

This leaves you with a very comfortable margin. A common budgeting rule suggests spending 30% of your gross income on housing. For a salary of $89,661, that's about $2,241/month. At $843/month, your rent is only ~9.4% of your gross income—well under the recommended threshold. This is one of the most compelling financial arguments for moving here.

Can you afford to buy a home? Absolutely. With a take-home of over $5,600 per month and a median home price in Wichita County around $160,000 - $180,000, homeownership is very attainable. A 30-year mortgage on a $170,000 home (with 20% down) would be roughly $850/month—less than the average rent for a 1-bedroom. This is a stark contrast to major metros where a similar salary often locks you into renting for years.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let's get practical. What does a $89,661 salary actually feel like in your pocket each month? We'll assume you're single, filing as a single filer, and taking the standard deduction for a rough estimate.

• Gross Annual Salary: $89,661
• Estimated Annual Federal Tax: ~$15,200
• Estimated Annual State Tax (Texas has no state income tax): $0
• Social Security & Medicare (FICA): ~$6,850
• Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay: ~$67,611
• Monthly Take-Home Pay: ~$5,634

Now, let's layer in the rent. The average 1-bedroom apartment in Wichita Falls costs $843/month. If you spend that on rent, your monthly budget looks like this:

• Monthly Take-Home: $5,634
• Rent (-$843): $4,791
• Remaining for Utilities, Groceries, Car, Insurance, Entertainment, and Savings: $4,791

This leaves you with a very comfortable margin. A common budgeting rule suggests spending 30% of your gross income on housing. For a salary of $89,661, that's about $2,241/month. At $843/month, your rent is only ~9.4% of your gross income—well under the recommended threshold. This is one of the most compelling financial arguments for moving here.

Can you afford to buy a home? Absolutely. With a take-home of over $5,600 per month and a median home price in Wichita County around $160,000 - $180,000, homeownership is very attainable. A 30-year mortgage on a $170,000 home (with 20% down) would be roughly $850/month—less than the average rent for a 1-bedroom. This is a stark contrast to major metros where a similar salary often locks you into renting for years.

Where the Jobs Are: Wichita Falls's Major Employers

The job market here is less about flashy tech startups and more about stable, essential industries that rely on robust web presence and internal systems. Here are the key players where a web developer can find a home:

1. United Regional Health Care System: As the largest hospital in the region, their IT department is a consistent source of jobs. They need web developers for patient portals, internal intranets, and public-facing informational sites. Hiring Trend: They're actively modernizing legacy systems, so developers with experience in .NET, Java, and modern JavaScript frameworks are in demand.

2. Wichita Falls ISD (Independent School District): The school district manages a massive web presence across dozens of schools. They employ developers to maintain their main district site, school-specific pages, and specialized platforms for students and parents. Hiring Trend: Budgets are tight, so they often hire for long-term stability. Contractors are common for specific projects.

3. Sheppard Air Force Base: A massive economic engine. While direct federal jobs can be slow, the base's ecosystem of contractors (like Mission Support & Test Services, LLC or Centurion) is where the tech jobs are. These contractors build web-based training systems, logistics portals, and base information sites. Security clearance can be a huge plus, but not always required for unclassified web work.

4. Kell Office Machines / Local Manufacturing: Wichita Falls has a history of manufacturing. Companies like Kell Office Machines have evolved into IT and business solutions providers. They often look for full-stack developers to build custom business applications and e-commerce sites for local and regional clients. Hiring Trend: Small teams, high autonomy. You'll wear many hats.

5. First National Bank of Wichita Falls (and other local banks): Financial institutions have a critical need for secure, user-friendly web applications for online banking, customer service, and internal reporting. Hiring Trend: Security and compliance are paramount. They prioritize developers with a meticulous attention to detail.

6. Midwestern State University (MSU): While not a massive employer, the university's IT department and associated research grants can create niche opportunities for developers working on educational platforms or research project websites.

Insider Tip: Many of the best opportunities are never advertised on national job boards. The "Who's Who" of Wichita Falls is small. Join the North Texas Technology Council and attend their local meetups. A personal referral from an employee at United Regional or a base contractor is worth more than a dozen applications.

Getting Licensed in TX

It's a common misconception that web developers need a state license. For general web development, you do not. Texas, like most states, does not license software developers. However, there are specific scenarios where certification or licensure becomes relevant:

• Professional Engineering (PE) License: If you are working on software that controls physical infrastructure (e.g., building management systems, industrial control software for manufacturing), you may fall under the purview of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. This is rare for web developers but critical in certain industries.
• Cybersecurity & Fraud: If you move into high-level cybersecurity, penetration testing, or forensic analysis, certifications like CISSP or CEH are valued and sometimes required by employers (especially government contractors). These are administered by private entities, not the state.
• Teaching: If you decide to teach web development at a community college (like North Texas Central College), you'll likely need a teaching certificate from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Cost and Timeline: For 99% of web developers, the only "license" needed is a strong portfolio. The investment is in your skills, not state paperwork. The timeline to get started is immediate. You can apply for jobs today, and if you land one, the onboarding process is typically 1-2 weeks.

Best Neighborhoods for Web Developers

Wichita Falls is a compact city. Commutes are generally short (15-25 minutes), but lifestyle and amenities vary. Here’s a breakdown:

1. The Downtown / Old Town District: This is the revitalizing heart of the city. You'll find historic lofts (rent: $900 - $1,400/month), coffee shops, and a growing arts scene. It's ideal if you want a walkable, urban feel and want to be close to the few co-working spaces and networking events. A short commute to most major employers, including United Regional and the ISD.

2. The Southwest (around Southwest Parkway): This is the newer, more suburban area. Think modern apartment complexes and single-family homes. Rent for a 1-bedroom is closer to the average at $800 - $950. It's perfect for those wanting more space, quieter streets, and easy access to shopping centers. Commute to Sheppard AFB or the industrial parks is very easy.

3. The North Side (near Kell & Brook Ave): More established neighborhoods with mid-century homes. You get larger yards for a lower price. Rent can be lower ($700 - $850). It's a practical choice for developers who work from home and want a quiet home office with space. It’s central, so you're never too far from anything.

4. The University Area (near MSU): A mix of student rentals and quiet residential streets. It's lively during the school year. Rent is very competitive ($650 - $800). This is a great spot if you're young, single, and want to be near the energy of the university, or if you're considering a teaching role at MSU.

Insider Tip: If you're targeting a job at Sheppard AFB, living on the southwest side will give you the easiest and most direct commute. For downtown employers, living in or near The Downtown District is worth the slight premium for the lifestyle.

The Long Game: Career Growth

In a smaller market like Wichita Falls, career growth looks different than in Silicon Valley. It's less about hopping from startup to startup and more about deepening your expertise within a local industry.

• Specialty Premiums: Full-stack developers ($95,000 - $120,000) earn a significant premium over front-end-only specialists. Niche skills in e-commerce (Shopify, Magento), healthcare IT (HIPAA-compliant systems), or data visualization are highly valued by local employers. Cybersecurity knowledge, even at a basic level, is a massive differentiator for bank or government contractor roles.
• Advancement Paths: The typical path isn't "junior to senior at one company" and then "tech lead at another." It's often "developer at a small business" -> "senior/lead developer at a hospital or bank" -> "IT Manager" or "Director of Technology." With a 10-year job growth of 16%, there's room for advancement, but it's more likely to come from taking on more responsibility within a larger local organization than from a sudden tech boom.
• 10-Year Outlook: The demand for web developers will remain stable, driven by the need for all businesses—especially healthcare, education, and local retail—to maintain a professional digital footprint. The growth won't be in building the next Facebook, but in modernizing the websites and internal tools of the institutions that keep the city running. Remote work is also a growing option, allowing you to earn a national salary while benefiting from Wichita Falls' low cost of living.

The Verdict: Is Wichita Falls Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Extremely Low Cost of Living: Your salary stretches much further.	Limited Tech Community: Fewer meetups, hackathons, and peers.
High Homeownership Potential: You can buy a house early in your career.	Fewer "Prestige" Companies: No FAANG or major tech giants here.
Stable, Diverse Employers: Jobs in healthcare, government, and education.	Slower Career Pacing: Less frequent job-hopping opportunities.
Short Commutes & Easy Living: Less traffic, more free time.	Limited Cultural/Nightlife: Quieter than Austin or Dallas.
Friendly, Tight-Knit Professional Networks: Easier to build connections.	Reliance on Generalist Skills: You may need to be a "jack-of-all-trades."

Final Recommendation: Wichita Falls is an exceptional choice for the pragmatic web developer. It's ideal for someone who values a high quality of life, financial stability, and homeownership over the relentless pace and high costs of a major tech hub. If you're a self-starter who can build a network locally and potentially work remotely for a national company, you can build an outstanding career and life here. If you thrive on constant industry buzz, cutting-edge tech stacks, and a vast local peer group, you may find it limiting.

FAQs

1. Is it easy to find a job as a web developer in Wichita Falls?
It's different from a major city. Jobs are available (there are ~205 in the metro), but the process is slower and more relationship-driven. You need to be proactive, use local resources like the North Texas Technology Council, and be open to roles in non-tech industries (like healthcare or banking).

2. How competitive is the local salary compared to remote work?
This is the key question. A local job paying the median of $89,661 gives you a fantastic standard of living. A remote job paying the national average of $92,750 is only slightly more, but after accounting for a higher cost of living elsewhere, your disposable income in Wichita Falls could be significantly higher. Many locals successfully work remotely for companies in Dallas or Austin.

3. What's the tech stack I should focus on to get hired here?
Prioritize JavaScript (React, Vue, Node.js) and .NET/C#. These are the most common languages in the region's healthcare, education, and government sectors. PHP is still used in many legacy systems (especially WordPress for small business sites). Python is gaining traction for data and automation tasks.

4. What's the lifestyle like for a single web developer?
It's what you make it. The social scene is quieter, centered on local breweries (like Wichita Falls Brewing Co.), community theater, and outdoor activities (Lake Arrowhead, cycling trails). It's not Austin's 6th Street, but it's friendly and relaxed. You'll likely build your social circle through professional networks or hobbies rather than a sprawling bar scene.

5. Do I need a car?
Yes, unequivocally. Public transportation is limited, and the city is spread out. Owning a reliable car is essential for commuting and exploring. The good news is that gas and car insurance are cheaper than the national average, and parking is never an issue.