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2026 Salary Data — Austin, TX
Updated April 28, 2026

Security Engineer Salary in Austin: $163K Median

Security Engineers in Austin, TX earn between $106K and $269K per year.

That's +15% above the US national median of $142,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Security Engineer salary in Austin, TX is $163,300 per year — +15% above the US national median of $142,000. Salaries range from $106,145 (entry, 25th percentile) to $269,445 (90th percentile). Security Engineers in Austin earned approximately $26,339 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$163,300
+520.0% YoY · $13,608/mo
Entry
$127,374
0–2 years
Experienced
$215,556
5+ years
Top 10%
$269,445
Senior/lead
Security Engineer Salary — Austin vs Nearby
Austin
$163K
Houston
$149K
+10% vs Austin
San Antonio
$132K
+24% vs Austin
Dallas
$149K
+10% vs Austin

Free ATS scan · Austin employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Security Engineers in Austin

Security engineers design and implement systems that protect organizations from cyber threats. They build secure infrastructure, perform threat modeling, and respond to incidents.

Core Responsibilities

  • Design secure infrastructure and architectures
  • Perform threat modeling and risk assessments
  • Implement zero-trust controls and EDR tooling
  • Lead incident response and forensics
  • Build security automation and tooling

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Bachelor's degree + security certifications (or equivalent experience)

In-demand certifications

CISSPSecurity+OSCPCEHCISMAWS Security Specialty

Austin Job Market

Texas tech capital with major Tesla, Apple, Oracle, and startup presence.

Population
974K
Cost of Living
119
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
3.7%
Median Home
$510K

Top Industries in Austin

TechGovernmentEducationHealthcareMusic/Entertainment

Top Employers Hiring Security Engineers

Major employers active in Austin or hiring remotely from this metro.

CrowdStrike
Palo Alto Networks
Mandiant
Microsoft
Google
Amazon
Cloudflare
Okta

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Security Engineer listings.

zero-trustcloud security (AWS/GCP)threat modelingEDR/XDRKubernetes securityAI security

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

CISSPzero-trustthreat modelingEDRSIEMpenetration testingcloud securityIAMincident responseNIST
Career Outlook
+32% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

Security engineer demand projected to grow 32% through 2034 — among the fastest in tech. Severe talent shortage with 700K+ unfilled US cybersecurity roles.

Security Engineer Salary Breakdown — Austin

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$106,145$163,300$269,445
Monthly$8,845$13,608$22,454
Weekly$2,041$3,140$5,182
Hourly$51$79$130

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($142,000) adjusted for Austin's cost-of-living multiplier (1.15×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Security Engineer Take-Home Pay in Austin

After federal, state and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$122,272.55
Per month$10,189
Biweekly paycheck$4,703
Effective tax rate25.1%

Tax Breakdown on $163,300

Gross salary$163,300
Federal income tax−$28,535
Texas state tax−$0
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$12,492.45
Take-home (net)$122,272.55

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Security Engineer Salary by Experience — Austin

Career-stage progression for Security Engineers in Austin.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$117,184
2–3 yr$127,374
4–6 yr$171,465
7–10 yr$215,556
11–15 yr$254,356
15+ yr$242,501

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Austin's 1.15× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$26,339
2026 median:$163,300
Change:+$136,961

Technology sector growth driven by demand for zero-trust and cloud security (AWS/GCP).

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$137,227
Tight on the median. Housing eats a disproportionate share of take-home pay and savings rates suffer without a partner income or higher-percentile salary.

How to Negotiate Your Security Engineer Salary in Austin

Walk-away anchor: $142,000 (offers below this are below market for Austin).

Leverage Points

  • Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
  • Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
  • Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
  • Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years

What To Say

"Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant?"

Anchor on $216K–$269K for experienced roles, citing Austin market data and your specific zero-trust/cloud security (AWS/GCP) expertise.

Security Engineer Salary FAQ — Austin

What is the average Security Engineer salary in Austin, TX?
The average Security Engineer salary in Austin is $163,300 per year as of April 2026 — $13,608/month, $3,140/week, or about $79/hour. Salaries range from $106,145 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $269,445 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Austin's cost-of-living multiplier (1.15×).
Is $163,300 a good Security Engineer salary in Austin?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Austin's cost-of-living index is 119 (vs 100 nationally), giving $163,300 a real purchasing power of approximately $137,227 in national terms. Tight on the median. Housing eats a disproportionate share of take-home pay and savings rates suffer without a partner income or higher-percentile salary.
Can you live on $163,300 in Austin?
Dual-income households are functionally required to raise a family at this cost level. Single earners on the median typically rent rather than buy and delay starting a family. Many residents spend 35-40% of pre-tax income on rent here, but the textbook target is still 30%. Going above 35% will materially crimp retirement and emergency savings. For Austin specifically (median home price $510,000), a $163,300 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $163,300 enough for a single person in Austin?
A single adult in Austin typically needs ~$53,550 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $163,300 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $163,300 enough for a couple in Austin?
A couple (one earner) in Austin typically needs ~$85,680 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $163,300 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $163,300 each ($326,600 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $163,300 enough for a family of 4 in Austin?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Austin typically needs ~$130,900 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $163,300 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — a family of 4 can afford this metro on a single Security Engineer income with prudent budgeting. Childcare costs in Austin typically run $18K-$33K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Security Engineer in Austin?
On a $163,300 Security Engineer salary in Austin, TX, you take home approximately $122,272.55 per year ($10,189/month, $4,703 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $28,535, state $0, FICA $12,492.45. Effective tax rate: 25.1%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Security Engineers in Austin earn compared to the US average?
Security Engineers in Austin earn approximately 15% more than the US national median for this role ($142,000 nationally vs $163,300 in Austin). However, Austin's cost-of-living index of 119 means real purchasing power is approximately $137,227 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Security Engineer earn in Austin?
Entry-level Security Engineers in Austin typically start at around $127,374 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Security Engineers earn $215,556 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $269,445+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Security Engineer salaries in Austin increase in 2026?
Yes — Security Engineer salaries in Austin grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $26,339 in 2025 to $163,300 in 2026 (+$136,961). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by zero-trust and cloud security (AWS/GCP) demand.
What's the job outlook for Security Engineers in Austin?
Security engineer demand projected to grow 32% through 2034 — among the fastest in tech. Severe talent shortage with 700K+ unfilled US cybersecurity roles. Austin's top industries include Tech, Government, Education, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 3.7% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
What skills are most in demand for Security Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Security Engineers are: zero-trust, cloud security (AWS/GCP), threat modeling, EDR/XDR, Kubernetes security, AI security. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Austin.
Who are the top employers hiring Security Engineers in Austin?
Top employers hiring Security Engineers in or near Austin include: CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, Mandiant, Microsoft, Google, Amazon. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Security Engineer salary in Austin?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Key leverage points for Technology negotiations: Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies; Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved; Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance.
How can I increase my Security Engineer salary in Austin?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (zero-trust, cloud security (AWS/GCP), threat modeling) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., CISSP or Security+). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Security Engineer in Austin?
Bachelor's degree + security certifications (or equivalent experience) is the typical path. However, Austin's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Technology roles.

Methodology & Sources

Security Engineer salary figures for Austin are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($142,000) by Austin's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.15× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (520.0%) reflects the Technology sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Austin

Cybersecurity Analyst →DevOps Engineer →Software Engineer →Data Scientist →Product Manager →Web Developer →

Security Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Houston, TX$149KSan Antonio, TX$132KSan Diego, CA$168KDallas, TX$149KFort Worth, TX$145KDenver, CO$156KEl Paso, TX$121KPortland, OR$156K

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