Salary Comparison

Information Security Analyst Salary:
Denver, CO vs Houston, TX

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

Denver, CO
$136,104
/ year
+18%
difference
Houston, TX
$115,541
/ year
Bottom line: Denver wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Denver
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$136,104โœ“ higher
$115,541
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$88,018โœ“ higher
$74,720
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$210,461โœ“ higher
$178,664
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$92,858โœ“ higher
$80,448
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$119,389โœ“ higher
$117,899
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14ร—
0.98ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$88,018โœ“ higher
$74,720
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$210,461โœ“ higher
$178,664

What if you move from Denver to Houston?

Gross salary change
$20,563
18% decrease
Take-home change
$12,410
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,490
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

Denver, CO$136,104
P10: $88,018Median: $136,104P90: $210,461
Houston, TX$115,541
P10: $74,720Median: $115,541P90: $178,664

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Information Security Analyst salary in Denver, CO is $136,104/yr compared to $115,541/yr in Houston, TX. Denver pays 18% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Information Security Analyst salary worth more in Denver or Houston 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 $117,899/yr for Houston. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Information Security Analyst in Denver, CO takes home approximately $92,858/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.