Salary Comparison

Security Engineer Salary:
Chicago, IL vs Melbourne

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

Chicago, IL
$178,398
/ year
+7%
difference
Melbourne
$166,029
/ year
Bottom line: Chicago wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Chicago
Melbourne
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$178,398✓ higher
$166,029
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$115,369✓ higher
$107,370
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$275,861✓ higher
$256,734
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$119,132✓ higher
$102,938
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$155,129✓ higher
$132,823
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.15×✓ lower
1.25×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$115,369
$163,202✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$275,861
$390,236✓ higher

What if you move from Chicago to Melbourne?

Gross salary change
$12,369
7% decrease
Take-home change
$16,194
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$22,306
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
Melbourne$166,029
P10: $163,202Median: $166,029P90: $390,236

More Security Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Security Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $178,398/yr compared to A$252,364/yr in Melbourne. Chicago pays 7% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Security Engineer salary worth more in Chicago or Melbourne 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 $132,823/yr for Melbourne. Chicago offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Security Engineer in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $119,132/yr, vs $102,938/yr in Melbourne. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.