Salary Comparison

Information Security Analyst Salary:
Boston, MA vs Phoenix, AZ

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

Boston, MA
$166,252
/ year
+47%
difference
Phoenix, AZ
$113,466
/ 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
Phoenix
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$166,252โœ“ higher
$113,466
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$107,514โœ“ higher
$73,378
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$257,079โœ“ higher
$175,455
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$111,053โœ“ higher
$79,196
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$118,751โœ“ higher
$116,975
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40ร—
0.97ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$107,514โœ“ higher
$73,378
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$257,079โœ“ higher
$175,455

What if you move from Boston to Phoenix?

Gross salary change
$52,786
47% decrease
Take-home change
$31,857
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,776
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
Phoenix, AZ$113,466
P10: $73,378Median: $113,466P90: $175,455

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Information Security Analyst salary in Boston, MA is $166,252/yr compared to $113,466/yr in Phoenix, AZ. Boston pays 47% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Information Security Analyst salary worth more in Boston or Phoenix 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 $116,975/yr for Phoenix. Boston offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Information Security Analyst in Boston, MA takes home approximately $111,053/yr, vs $79,196/yr in Phoenix, AZ. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.