Salary Comparison

Security Engineer Salary:
Chicago, IL vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Chicago, IL
$178,398
/ year
+5%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$170,681
/ year
Bottom line: Philadelphia offers better purchasing power despite Chicago paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Chicago
Philadelphia
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$178,398✓ higher
$170,681
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$115,369✓ higher
$110,379
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$275,861✓ higher
$263,928
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$119,132✓ higher
$113,885
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$155,129
$158,038✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.15×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$115,369✓ higher
$110,379
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$275,861✓ higher
$263,928

What if you move from Chicago to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$7,717
5% decrease
Take-home change
$5,247
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$2,909
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
Philadelphia, PA$170,681
P10: $110,379Median: $170,681P90: $263,928

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Security Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $178,398/yr compared to $170,681/yr in Philadelphia, PA. Chicago pays 5% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Security Engineer salary worth more in Chicago or Philadelphia 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 $158,038/yr for Philadelphia. Philadelphia offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Security Engineer in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $119,132/yr, vs $113,885/yr in Philadelphia, PA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.