Salary Comparison

Security Engineer Salary:
Sydney vs Adelaide

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

Sydney
$167,040
/ year
+22%
difference
Adelaide
$136,557
/ year
Bottom line: Adelaide offers better purchasing power despite Sydney paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Sydney
Adelaide
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$167,040✓ higher
$136,557
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$108,024✓ higher
$88,311
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$258,298✓ higher
$211,161
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$103,565✓ higher
$92,859
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$123,733
$136,557✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.35×
1.00×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$164,196✓ higher
$134,233
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$392,613✓ higher
$320,965

What if you move from Sydney to Adelaide?

Gross salary change
$30,483
22% decrease
Take-home change
$10,706
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$12,824
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

Sydney$167,040
P10: $164,196Median: $167,040P90: $392,613
Adelaide$136,557
P10: $134,233Median: $136,557P90: $320,965

More Security Engineer salary comparisons

Sydney vs MelbourneSydney vs BrisbaneSydney vs PerthAll Security Engineer salaries →

Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Security Engineer earn more in Sydney or Adelaide?

The median Security Engineer salary in Sydney is A$253,901/yr compared to A$207,567/yr in Adelaide. Sydney pays 22% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Security Engineer salary worth more in Sydney or Adelaide after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Sydney salary has the purchasing power of $123,733/yr in a median-cost city, vs $136,557/yr for Adelaide. Adelaide offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Security Engineer in Sydney vs Adelaide?

After estimated taxes, a Security Engineer in Sydney takes home approximately $103,565/yr, vs $92,859/yr in Adelaide. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.