Salary Comparison

Information Security Analyst Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Houston, TX

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

Seattle, WA
$172,221
/ year
+49%
difference
Houston, TX
$115,541
/ year
Bottom line: Seattle wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Seattle
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$172,221✓ higher
$115,541
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$111,375✓ higher
$74,720
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$266,309✓ higher
$178,664
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$114,932✓ higher
$80,448
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$121,282✓ higher
$117,899
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$111,375✓ higher
$74,720
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$266,309✓ higher
$178,664

What if you move from Seattle to Houston?

Gross salary change
$56,680
49% decrease
Take-home change
$34,484
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$3,383
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

Seattle, WA$172,221
P10: $111,375Median: $172,221P90: $266,309
Houston, TX$115,541
P10: $74,720Median: $115,541P90: $178,664

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Information Security Analyst earn more in Seattle or Houston?

The median Information Security Analyst salary in Seattle, WA is $172,221/yr compared to $115,541/yr in Houston, TX. Seattle pays 49% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $121,282/yr in a median-cost city, vs $117,899/yr for Houston. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Information Security Analyst in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $114,932/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.