Salary Comparison

Security Engineer Salary:
San Francisco, CA vs New York, NY

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

San Francisco, CA
$264,828
/ year
+18%
difference
New York, NY
$224,905
/ year
Bottom line: San Francisco wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
San Francisco
New York
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$264,828✓ higher
$224,905
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$171,263✓ higher
$145,445
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$409,510✓ higher
$347,776
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$176,897✓ higher
$150,757
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$157,636✓ higher
$155,107
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.68×
1.45×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$171,263✓ higher
$145,445
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$409,510✓ higher
$347,776

What if you move from San Francisco to New York?

Gross salary change
$39,923
18% decrease
Take-home change
$26,140
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$2,529
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

San Francisco, CA$264,828
P10: $171,263Median: $264,828P90: $409,510
New York, NY$224,905
P10: $145,445Median: $224,905P90: $347,776

More Security Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Security Engineer earn more in San Francisco or New York?

The median Security Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA is $264,828/yr compared to $224,905/yr in New York, NY. San Francisco pays 18% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Security Engineer salary worth more in San Francisco or New York after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your San Francisco salary has the purchasing power of $157,636/yr in a median-cost city, vs $155,107/yr for New York. San Francisco offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Security Engineer in San Francisco vs New York?

After estimated taxes, a Security Engineer in San Francisco, CA takes home approximately $176,897/yr, vs $150,757/yr in New York, NY. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.