Salary Comparison

Security Engineer Salary:
San Francisco, CA vs Tokyo

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

San Francisco, CA
$264,828
/ year
+105%
difference
Tokyo
$129,218
/ 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
Tokyo
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$264,828✓ higher
$129,218
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$171,263✓ higher
$83,565
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$409,510✓ higher
$199,813
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$176,897✓ higher
$87,868
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$157,636✓ higher
$95,717
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.68×
1.35×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$171,263
$12,367,620✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$409,510
$29,572,324✓ higher

What if you move from San Francisco to Tokyo?

Gross salary change
$135,610
105% decrease
Take-home change
$89,029
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$61,919
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
Tokyo$129,218
P10: $12,367,620Median: $129,218P90: $29,572,324

More Security Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Security Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA is $264,828/yr compared to ¥19,124,264/yr in Tokyo. San Francisco pays 105% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Security Engineer salary worth more in San Francisco or Tokyo 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 $95,717/yr for Tokyo. San Francisco offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Security Engineer in San Francisco, CA takes home approximately $176,897/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.