Salary Comparison

Security Engineer Salary:
Austin, TX vs Tokyo

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

Austin, TX
$172,030
/ year
+33%
difference
Tokyo
$129,218
/ year
Bottom line: Austin wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Austin
Tokyo
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$172,030โœ“ higher
$129,218
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$111,251โœ“ higher
$83,565
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$266,014โœ“ higher
$199,813
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$114,802โœ“ higher
$87,868
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$153,598โœ“ higher
$95,717
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12ร—โœ“ lower
1.35ร—
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$111,251
$12,367,620โœ“ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$266,014
$29,572,324โœ“ higher

What if you move from Austin to Tokyo?

Gross salary change
$42,812
33% decrease
Take-home change
$26,934
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$57,881
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

Austin, TX$172,030
P10: $111,251Median: $172,030P90: $266,014
Tokyo$129,218
P10: $12,367,620Median: $129,218P90: $29,572,324

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Security Engineer earn more in Austin or Tokyo?

The median Security Engineer salary in Austin, TX is $172,030/yr compared to ยฅ19,124,264/yr in Tokyo. Austin pays 33% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Security Engineer salary worth more in Austin or Tokyo after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Austin salary has the purchasing power of $153,598/yr in a median-cost city, vs $95,717/yr for Tokyo. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Security Engineer in Austin vs Tokyo?

After estimated taxes, a Security Engineer in Austin, TX takes home approximately $114,802/yr, vs $87,868/yr in Tokyo. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.