Salary Comparison

Security Engineer Salary:
Atlanta, GA vs Phoenix, AZ

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

Atlanta, GA
$169,692
/ year
+13%
difference
Phoenix, AZ
$150,231
/ year
Bottom line: Atlanta wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Atlanta
Phoenix
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$169,692✓ higher
$150,231
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$109,739✓ higher
$97,154
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$262,399✓ higher
$232,306
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$113,212✓ higher
$101,384
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$161,611✓ higher
$154,877
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.05×
0.97×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$109,739✓ higher
$97,154
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$262,399✓ higher
$232,306

What if you move from Atlanta to Phoenix?

Gross salary change
$19,461
13% decrease
Take-home change
$11,828
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$6,734
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

Atlanta, GA$169,692
P10: $109,739Median: $169,692P90: $262,399
Phoenix, AZ$150,231
P10: $97,154Median: $150,231P90: $232,306

More Security Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Security Engineer earn more in Atlanta or Phoenix?

The median Security Engineer salary in Atlanta, GA is $169,692/yr compared to $150,231/yr in Phoenix, AZ. Atlanta pays 13% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Security Engineer salary worth more in Atlanta or Phoenix after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Atlanta salary has the purchasing power of $161,611/yr in a median-cost city, vs $154,877/yr for Phoenix. Atlanta offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Security Engineer in Atlanta vs Phoenix?

After estimated taxes, a Security Engineer in Atlanta, GA takes home approximately $113,212/yr, vs $101,384/yr in Phoenix, AZ. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.