Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Boston, MA vs San Antonio, TX

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Boston, MA
$194,297
/ year
+56%
difference
San Antonio, TX
$124,350
/ year
Bottom line: San Antonio offers better purchasing power despite Boston paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Boston
San Antonio
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$194,297✓ higher
$124,350
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$125,651✓ higher
$80,417
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$300,446✓ higher
$192,285
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$129,944✓ higher
$85,765
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$138,784
$141,307✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40×
0.88×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$125,651✓ higher
$80,417
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$300,446✓ higher
$192,285

What if you move from Boston to San Antonio?

Gross salary change
$69,947
56% decrease
Take-home change
$44,179
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$2,523
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Boston, MA$194,297
P10: $125,651Median: $194,297P90: $300,446
San Antonio, TX$124,350
P10: $80,417Median: $124,350P90: $192,285

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Engineer earn more in Boston or San Antonio?

The median Data Engineer salary in Boston, MA is $194,297/yr compared to $124,350/yr in San Antonio, TX. Boston pays 56% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Engineer salary worth more in Boston or San Antonio after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $138,784/yr in a median-cost city, vs $141,307/yr for San Antonio. San Antonio offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Engineer in Boston vs San Antonio?

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $129,944/yr, vs $85,765/yr in San Antonio, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.