Salary Comparison

Security Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs San Antonio, TX

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

Seattle, WA
$226,240
/ year
+64%
difference
San Antonio, TX
$137,837
/ 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
San Antonio
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$226,240✓ higher
$137,837
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$146,308✓ higher
$89,139
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$349,840✓ higher
$213,141
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$151,665✓ higher
$93,904
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$159,324✓ higher
$156,633
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
0.88×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$146,308✓ higher
$89,139
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$349,840✓ higher
$213,141

What if you move from Seattle to San Antonio?

Gross salary change
$88,403
64% decrease
Take-home change
$57,761
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$2,691
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$226,240
P10: $146,308Median: $226,240P90: $349,840
San Antonio, TX$137,837
P10: $89,139Median: $137,837P90: $213,141

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Security Engineer earn more in Seattle or San Antonio?

The median Security Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $226,240/yr compared to $137,837/yr in San Antonio, TX. Seattle pays 64% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $159,324/yr in a median-cost city, vs $156,633/yr for San Antonio. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Security Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $151,665/yr, vs $93,904/yr in San Antonio, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.