Salary Comparison

Security Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Toronto

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

Seattle, WA
$226,240
/ year
+49%
difference
Toronto
$151,781
/ 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
Toronto
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$226,240✓ higher
$151,781
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$146,308✓ higher
$98,156
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$349,840✓ higher
$234,702
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$151,665✓ higher
$94,104
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$159,324✓ higher
$121,425
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
1.25×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$146,308✓ higher
$133,492
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$349,840✓ higher
$319,195

What if you move from Seattle to Toronto?

Gross salary change
$74,459
49% decrease
Take-home change
$57,561
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$37,899
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
Toronto$151,781
P10: $133,492Median: $151,781P90: $319,195

More Security Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Security Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $226,240/yr compared to CA$206,422/yr in Toronto. Seattle pays 49% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Security Engineer salary worth more in Seattle or Toronto 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 $121,425/yr for Toronto. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Security Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $151,665/yr, vs $94,104/yr in Toronto. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.