Salary Comparison

Information Security Analyst Salary:
Denver, CO vs Chicago, IL

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

Denver, CO
$136,104
/ year
+3%
difference
Chicago, IL
$132,783
/ year
Bottom line: Denver wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Denver
Chicago
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$136,104✓ higher
$132,783
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$88,018✓ higher
$85,870
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$210,461✓ higher
$205,325
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$92,858✓ higher
$90,854
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$119,389✓ higher
$115,463
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14×✓ lower
1.15×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$88,018✓ higher
$85,870
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$210,461✓ higher
$205,325

What if you move from Denver to Chicago?

Gross salary change
$3,321
3% decrease
Take-home change
$2,004
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$3,926
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

Denver, CO$136,104
P10: $88,018Median: $136,104P90: $210,461
Chicago, IL$132,783
P10: $85,870Median: $132,783P90: $205,325

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Information Security Analyst earn more in Denver or Chicago?

The median Information Security Analyst salary in Denver, CO is $136,104/yr compared to $132,783/yr in Chicago, IL. Denver pays 3% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Information Security Analyst salary worth more in Denver or Chicago after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Denver salary has the purchasing power of $119,389/yr in a median-cost city, vs $115,463/yr for Chicago. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Information Security Analyst in Denver vs Chicago?

After estimated taxes, a Information Security Analyst in Denver, CO takes home approximately $92,858/yr, vs $90,854/yr in Chicago, IL. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.