Salary Comparison

Information Security Analyst Salary:
Boston, MA vs Washington DC, DC

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

Boston, MA
$166,252
/ year
+2%
difference
Washington DC, DC
$163,216
/ year
Bottom line: Boston wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Boston
Washington DC
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$166,252✓ higher
$163,216
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$107,514✓ higher
$105,551
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$257,079✓ higher
$252,385
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$111,053✓ higher
$109,220
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$118,751✓ higher
$114,941
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40×✓ lower
1.42×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$107,514✓ higher
$105,551
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$257,079✓ higher
$252,385

What if you move from Boston to Washington DC?

Gross salary change
$3,036
2% decrease
Take-home change
$1,833
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$3,810
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$166,252
P10: $107,514Median: $166,252P90: $257,079
Washington DC, DC$163,216
P10: $105,551Median: $163,216P90: $252,385

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Information Security Analyst earn more in Boston or Washington DC?

The median Information Security Analyst salary in Boston, MA is $166,252/yr compared to $163,216/yr in Washington DC, DC. Boston pays 2% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Information Security Analyst salary worth more in Boston or Washington DC 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 $114,941/yr for Washington DC. Boston offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Information Security Analyst in Boston vs Washington DC?

After estimated taxes, a Information Security Analyst in Boston, MA takes home approximately $111,053/yr, vs $109,220/yr in Washington DC, DC. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.