Salary Comparison

Information Security Analyst Salary:
Austin, TX vs Houston, TX

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

Austin, TX
$136,026
/ year
+18%
difference
Houston, TX
$115,541
/ year
Bottom line: Austin wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Austin
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$136,026โœ“ higher
$115,541
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$87,967โœ“ higher
$74,720
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$210,340โœ“ higher
$178,664
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$92,811โœ“ higher
$80,448
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$121,452โœ“ higher
$117,899
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12ร—
0.98ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$87,967โœ“ higher
$74,720
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$210,340โœ“ higher
$178,664

What if you move from Austin to Houston?

Gross salary change
$20,485
18% decrease
Take-home change
$12,363
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$3,553
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 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Austin, TX$136,026
P10: $87,967Median: $136,026P90: $210,340
Houston, TX$115,541
P10: $74,720Median: $115,541P90: $178,664

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Information Security Analyst earn more in Austin or Houston?

The median Information Security Analyst salary in Austin, TX is $136,026/yr compared to $115,541/yr in Houston, TX. Austin pays 18% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Information Security Analyst salary worth more in Austin or Houston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Austin salary has the purchasing power of $121,452/yr in a median-cost city, vs $117,899/yr for Houston. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Information Security Analyst in Austin vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a Information Security Analyst in Austin, TX takes home approximately $92,811/yr, vs $80,448/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.