Salary Comparison

Security Engineer Salary:
Chicago, IL vs Houston, TX

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

Chicago, IL
$178,398
/ year
+13%
difference
Houston, TX
$157,797
/ year
Bottom line: Houston offers better purchasing power despite Chicago paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Chicago
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$178,398✓ higher
$157,797
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$115,369✓ higher
$102,047
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$275,861✓ higher
$244,005
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$119,132✓ higher
$105,950
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$155,129
$161,017✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.15×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$115,369✓ higher
$102,047
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$275,861✓ higher
$244,005

What if you move from Chicago to Houston?

Gross salary change
$20,601
13% decrease
Take-home change
$13,182
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$5,888
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

Chicago, IL$178,398
P10: $115,369Median: $178,398P90: $275,861
Houston, TX$157,797
P10: $102,047Median: $157,797P90: $244,005

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Security Engineer earn more in Chicago or Houston?

The median Security Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $178,398/yr compared to $157,797/yr in Houston, TX. Chicago pays 13% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Security Engineer salary worth more in Chicago or Houston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Chicago salary has the purchasing power of $155,129/yr in a median-cost city, vs $161,017/yr for Houston. Houston offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Security Engineer in Chicago vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a Security Engineer in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $119,132/yr, vs $105,950/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.