Salary Comparison

Security Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Chicago, IL

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

Seattle, WA
$226,877
/ year
+36%
difference
Chicago, IL
$166,453
/ year
Bottom line: Seattle wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Seattle
Chicago
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$226,877✓ higher
$166,453
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$146,720✓ higher
$107,644
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$350,825✓ higher
$257,390
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$152,098✓ higher
$111,174
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$159,773✓ higher
$144,742
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
1.15×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$146,720✓ higher
$107,644
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$350,825✓ higher
$257,390

What if you move from Seattle to Chicago?

Gross salary change
$60,424
36% decrease
Take-home change
$40,924
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$15,031
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

Seattle, WA$226,877
P10: $146,720Median: $226,877P90: $350,825
Chicago, IL$166,453
P10: $107,644Median: $166,453P90: $257,390

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Security Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $226,877/yr compared to $166,453/yr in Chicago, IL. Seattle pays 36% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $159,773/yr in a median-cost city, vs $144,742/yr for Chicago. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Security Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $152,098/yr, vs $111,174/yr in Chicago, IL. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.