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2026 Salary Data — El Paso, TX
Updated April 28, 2026

Security Engineer Salary in El Paso: $121K Median

Security Engineers in El Paso, TX earn between $78K and $199K per year.

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

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Security Engineer salary in El Paso, TX is $120,700 per year — -15% below the US national median of $142,000. Salaries range from $78,455 (entry, 25th percentile) to $199,155 (90th percentile). Security Engineers in El Paso earned approximately $19,468 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$120,700
+520.0% YoY · $10,058/mo
Entry
$94,146
0–2 years
Experienced
$159,324
5+ years
Top 10%
$199,155
Senior/lead
Security Engineer Salary — El Paso vs Nearby
El Paso
$121K
Houston
$149K
-19% vs El Paso
San Antonio
$132K
-9% vs El Paso
Dallas
$149K
-19% vs El Paso

Free ATS scan · El Paso employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Security Engineers in El Paso

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

El Paso Job Market

Border region hub with strong military and manufacturing presence.

Population
678K
Cost of Living
86
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
5.5%
Median Home
$215K

Top Industries in El Paso

MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingLogisticsGovernment

Top Employers Hiring Security Engineers

Major employers active in El Paso 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 — El Paso

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$78,455$120,700$199,155
Monthly$6,538$10,058$16,596
Weekly$1,509$2,321$3,830
Hourly$38$58$96

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($142,000) adjusted for El Paso's cost-of-living multiplier (0.85×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Security Engineer Take-Home Pay in El Paso

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

Net Annual Take-Home
$93,155.45
Per month$7,763
Biweekly paycheck$3,583
Effective tax rate22.8%

Tax Breakdown on $120,700

Gross salary$120,700
Federal income tax−$18,311
Texas state tax−$0
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$9,233.55
Take-home (net)$93,155.45

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 — El Paso

Career-stage progression for Security Engineers in El Paso.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$86,614
2–3 yr$94,146
4–6 yr$126,735
7–10 yr$159,324
11–15 yr$188,002
15+ yr$179,240

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for El Paso's 0.85× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$19,468
2026 median:$120,700
Change:+$101,232

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
$140,349
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your Security Engineer Salary in El Paso

Walk-away anchor: $104,957 (offers below this are below market for El Paso).

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 $159K–$199K for experienced roles, citing El Paso market data and your specific zero-trust/cloud security (AWS/GCP) expertise.

Security Engineer Salary FAQ — El Paso

What is the average Security Engineer salary in El Paso, TX?
The average Security Engineer salary in El Paso is $120,700 per year as of April 2026 — $10,058/month, $2,321/week, or about $58/hour. Salaries range from $78,455 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $199,155 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for El Paso's cost-of-living multiplier (0.85×).
Is $120,700 a good Security Engineer salary in El Paso?
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. El Paso's cost-of-living index is 86 (vs 100 nationally), giving $120,700 a real purchasing power of approximately $140,349 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $120,700 in El Paso?
Median local pay typically supports a single-earner family of four with a starter home, modest college savings, and standard healthcare costs covered. Stay under 25% of pre-tax income on rent. In this market, that is realistic on most professional salaries and leaves room for retirement contributions. For El Paso specifically (median home price $215,000), a $120,700 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $120,700 enough for a single person in El Paso?
A single adult in El Paso typically needs ~$38,700 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $120,700 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $120,700 enough for a couple in El Paso?
A couple (one earner) in El Paso typically needs ~$61,920 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $120,700 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $120,700 each ($241,400 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $120,700 enough for a family of 4 in El Paso?
A family of 4 (one earner) in El Paso typically needs ~$94,600 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $120,700 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 El Paso typically run $13K-$24K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Security Engineer in El Paso?
On a $120,700 Security Engineer salary in El Paso, TX, you take home approximately $93,155.45 per year ($7,763/month, $3,583 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $18,311, state $0, FICA $9,233.55. Effective tax rate: 22.8%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Security Engineers in El Paso earn compared to the US average?
Security Engineers in El Paso earn approximately 15% less than the US national median for this role ($142,000 nationally vs $120,700 in El Paso). However, El Paso's cost-of-living index of 86 means real purchasing power is approximately $140,349 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Security Engineer earn in El Paso?
Entry-level Security Engineers in El Paso typically start at around $94,146 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Security Engineers earn $159,324 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $199,155+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Security Engineer salaries in El Paso increase in 2026?
Yes — Security Engineer salaries in El Paso grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $19,468 in 2025 to $120,700 in 2026 (+$101,232). 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 El Paso?
Security engineer demand projected to grow 32% through 2034 — among the fastest in tech. Severe talent shortage with 700K+ unfilled US cybersecurity roles. El Paso's top industries include Military, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 5.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
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 El Paso.
Who are the top employers hiring Security Engineers in El Paso?
Top employers hiring Security Engineers in or near El Paso 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 El Paso?
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 El Paso?
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 El Paso?
Bachelor's degree + security certifications (or equivalent experience) is the typical path. However, El Paso'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 El Paso are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($142,000) by El Paso's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.85× — 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 El Paso

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

Security Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Houston, TX$149KSan Antonio, TX$132KDallas, TX$149KAustin, TX$163KFort Worth, TX$145KMemphis, TN$125KOklahoma City, OK$125KTulsa, OK$125K

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