Salary Comparison

Systems Administrator Salary:
San Francisco, CA vs San Antonio, TX

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

San Francisco, CA
$152,436
/ year
+94%
difference
San Antonio, TX
$78,424
/ year
Bottom line: San Francisco wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
San Francisco
San Antonio
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$152,436✓ higher
$78,424
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$98,580✓ higher
$50,716
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$235,715✓ higher
$121,269
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$102,715✓ higher
$58,048
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$90,736✓ higher
$89,118
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.68×
0.88×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$98,580✓ higher
$50,716
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$235,715✓ higher
$121,269

What if you move from San Francisco to San Antonio?

Gross salary change
$74,012
94% decrease
Take-home change
$44,667
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,618
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

San Francisco, CA$152,436
P10: $98,580Median: $152,436P90: $235,715
San Antonio, TX$78,424
P10: $50,716Median: $78,424P90: $121,269

More Systems Administrator salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Systems Administrator earn more in San Francisco or San Antonio?

The median Systems Administrator salary in San Francisco, CA is $152,436/yr compared to $78,424/yr in San Antonio, TX. San Francisco pays 94% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Systems Administrator salary worth more in San Francisco or San Antonio after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your San Francisco salary has the purchasing power of $90,736/yr in a median-cost city, vs $89,118/yr for San Antonio. San Francisco offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Systems Administrator in San Francisco vs San Antonio?

After estimated taxes, a Systems Administrator in San Francisco, CA takes home approximately $102,715/yr, vs $58,048/yr in San Antonio, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.