Salary Comparison

Systems Administrator Salary:
Chicago, IL vs Houston, TX

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

Chicago, IL
$101,593
/ year
+15%
difference
Houston, TX
$88,608
/ year
Bottom line: Houston offers better purchasing power despite Chicago paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Chicago
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$101,593✓ higher
$88,608
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$65,700✓ higher
$57,302
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$157,096✓ higher
$137,017
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$72,031✓ higher
$64,194
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$88,342
$90,416✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.15×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$65,700✓ higher
$57,302
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$157,096✓ higher
$137,017

What if you move from Chicago to Houston?

Gross salary change
$12,985
15% decrease
Take-home change
$7,837
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$2,074
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

Chicago, IL$101,593
P10: $65,700Median: $101,593P90: $157,096
Houston, TX$88,608
P10: $57,302Median: $88,608P90: $137,017

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Systems Administrator earn more in Chicago or Houston?

The median Systems Administrator salary in Chicago, IL is $101,593/yr compared to $88,608/yr in Houston, TX. Chicago pays 15% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Systems Administrator salary worth more in Chicago or Houston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Chicago salary has the purchasing power of $88,342/yr in a median-cost city, vs $90,416/yr for Houston. Houston offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Systems Administrator in Chicago vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a Systems Administrator in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $72,031/yr, vs $64,194/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.