Salary Comparison

Systems Administrator Salary:
Seattle, WA vs San Antonio, TX

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

Seattle, WA
$129,791
/ year
+65%
difference
San Antonio, TX
$78,424
/ 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
San Antonio
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$129,791✓ higher
$78,424
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$83,935✓ higher
$50,716
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$200,699✓ higher
$121,269
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$89,048✓ higher
$58,048
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$91,402✓ higher
$89,118
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
0.88×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$83,935✓ higher
$50,716
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$200,699✓ higher
$121,269

What if you move from Seattle to San Antonio?

Gross salary change
$51,367
65% decrease
Take-home change
$31,000
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$2,284
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$129,791
P10: $83,935Median: $129,791P90: $200,699
San Antonio, TX$78,424
P10: $50,716Median: $78,424P90: $121,269

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Systems Administrator salary in Seattle, WA is $129,791/yr compared to $78,424/yr in San Antonio, TX. Seattle pays 65% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $91,402/yr in a median-cost city, vs $89,118/yr for San Antonio. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Systems Administrator in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $89,048/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.