Salary Comparison

Information Security Analyst Salary:
Boston, MA vs Houston, TX

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

Boston, MA
$166,252
/ year
+44%
difference
Houston, TX
$115,541
/ year
Bottom line: Boston wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Boston
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$166,252โœ“ higher
$115,541
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$107,514โœ“ higher
$74,720
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$257,079โœ“ higher
$178,664
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$111,053โœ“ higher
$80,448
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$118,751โœ“ higher
$117,899
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40ร—
0.98ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$107,514โœ“ higher
$74,720
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$257,079โœ“ higher
$178,664

What if you move from Boston to Houston?

Gross salary change
$50,711
44% decrease
Take-home change
$30,605
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$852
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

Boston, MA$166,252
P10: $107,514Median: $166,252P90: $257,079
Houston, TX$115,541
P10: $74,720Median: $115,541P90: $178,664

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Information Security Analyst salary in Boston, MA is $166,252/yr compared to $115,541/yr in Houston, TX. Boston pays 44% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $118,751/yr in a median-cost city, vs $117,899/yr for Houston. Boston offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Information Security Analyst in Boston, MA takes home approximately $111,053/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.