Salary Comparison

Software Engineer Salary:
New York, NY vs San Antonio, TX

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

New York, NY
$208,353
/ year
+60%
difference
San Antonio, TX
$130,432
/ year
Bottom line: San Antonio offers better purchasing power despite New York paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
New York
San Antonio
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$208,353✓ higher
$130,432
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$134,741✓ higher
$84,350
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$322,181✓ higher
$201,690
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$139,502✓ higher
$89,435
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$143,692
$148,218✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.45×
0.88×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$134,741✓ higher
$84,350
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$322,181✓ higher
$201,690

What if you move from New York to San Antonio?

Gross salary change
$77,921
60% decrease
Take-home change
$50,067
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$4,526
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

New York, NY$208,353
P10: $134,741Median: $208,353P90: $322,181
San Antonio, TX$130,432
P10: $84,350Median: $130,432P90: $201,690

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Software Engineer earn more in New York or San Antonio?

The median Software Engineer salary in New York, NY is $208,353/yr compared to $130,432/yr in San Antonio, TX. New York pays 60% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Software Engineer salary worth more in New York or San Antonio after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your New York salary has the purchasing power of $143,692/yr in a median-cost city, vs $148,218/yr for San Antonio. San Antonio offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Software Engineer in New York vs San Antonio?

After estimated taxes, a Software Engineer in New York, NY takes home approximately $139,502/yr, vs $89,435/yr in San Antonio, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.