Show Me the Money

Here's how much money millennials make in Austin — and how far it goes

The millennial salary in Austin goes further than anywhere else in the U.S.

Kumar Appaiah/Flickr

Texans work hard for our money, but how far does it go? A report exploring the power of millennial money says that Texans, Austinites in particular, fare better than most young Americans.

For the report, commercial real estate firm JLL combed through 2016 data on the average salary for 25- to 34-year-olds in the top 50 U.S. metros. Then, they adjusted income for cost of living and compared it to the average U.S. income ($67,900) to see how far millennial money goes in 21 select markets.

Austin leads the list with the most buying power, followed by San Antonio (No. 2), Houston (No. 4), and Dallas-Fort Worth (No. 7). The takeaway? While metros like Washington and San Francisco boast the highest salaries, salaries in Texas have more value.

"In Texas, the average income of a millennial will feel $1,000 to $7,300 higher than the U.S. average — which gives them more potential dollars available for spending, meaning the value of their money goes further," explains the report.

The salary for a millennial in Austin, says JLL, is $72,442, but it spends like $75,225. That's $7,325 above the U.S. average. On the flip side, a $100,000 salary in the Bay Area feels more like $54,000.

When adjusted for cost of living, aSan Antonio salary of$63,902 is worth $74,827, and a Houston salary of $72,749 is worth $73,188. In DFW, a salary of $70,266 spends like $68,686, but it's still $1,000 higher than the national average.

The impressive buying power across Texas metros is attributed to our low cost of living, thriving local economies, and lack of state income tax.

"Major Texas markets can be viewed as prospective catalysts, or 'money magnets,' for the working millennial — where diverse job opportunities are growing, career advancement is high, and above average spending power puts you ahead of the your peers in other markets," notes JLL.

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SKIN IN THE GAME

Renowned Hill Country tattoo artist inks new sacred geometry app

Photo courtesy of Dillon Forte

Dillion Forte at his "tattoo ranch" in the Texas Hill Country.

In the world of tattooing, there may seem to be few better rat traps left to build, but Dillon Forte aims to change that. In October, the renowned Wimberley-based tattoo artist and entrepreneur introduced a new iPadOS app to bring ancient symbology into the digital age.

Forte has made a worldwide name for his black dot work (a contemporary take on stick-and-poke techniques) and ambitious undertakings like tattooing underwater and opening a “tattoo ranch.” His ink appears on Usher, Chris Hemsworth, and Kehlani.

Still, he is most recognized for his sacred geometry designs, using patterns to convey various meanings. His interest led him to create the Sacred Geometry Drawing App, a convenient way for novices and experts to develop and export their creations.

The app grew out of his own practice. Over the past decade, he has used tablets and freehand techniques to achieve his highly symmetrical artwork but grew to realize existing tools were not always easy to use.

“The app is an attempt and fulfillment of my desire to make sacred geometry accessible and bring the ability to create into the fingertips of as many people as possible,” Forte tells CultureMap via email, adding a tagline: “symmetry made simply.”

He says he wished the app was available when developing his signature style as a tattoo artist, but it was designed with a broad range of users in mind. He hopes that designers, educators, and artists will find a use for it.

A short intro to the app's capabilities is available on YouTube. It looks like a standard drawing app, starting with a blank canvas and some tools like pens, pencils, colors, and of course, straight line and dot makers.

A "symmetry index" anchors the functionality and expands it to something between 2D art and 3D modeling. In addition to generating shapes like repeating patterns and spirals, the app also creates 3D shapes with grids, so that the artist can map their design in real space or even create sculptures. There is also an index for explaining the spiritual meaning of some standard designs.

“Geometry often prompts an intimidating feeling when it comes to making art,” Forte continues. “The fundamentally complex and often academic nature of math-based art can induce a sense of fear in the potential user instead of creating a sense of awe. The purpose of the sacred geometry app is to cultivate the latter."

Creatives interested in constructing their own geometric masterpieces can download the app at the App Store for free, and in-app purchases are available.

technology apps tattoos arts