2026 Salary — Texas
Updated April 29, 2026
Security Engineer Salary in Texas: $145K Median
Security Engineers in Texas earn between $94K and $239K per year.
That's +2% above the US national median.
Quick Answer
As of April 2026, the median Security Engineer salary in Texas is $144,840 per year — +2% above the US national median of $142,000. Salaries range from $94,146 (entry, 25th percentile) to $238,986 (90th percentile). Texas's cost-of-living index is 93. Texas has no state income tax.
Median
$144,840
+520.0% YoY
Entry
$112,975
Experienced
$191,189
Top 10%
$238,986
About Security Engineers in Texas
Security engineers design and implement systems that protect organizations from cyber threats. They build secure infrastructure, perform threat modeling, and respond to incidents.
Hot 2026 Skills
zero-trustcloud security (AWS/GCP)threat modelingEDR/XDRKubernetes securityAI security
ATS Keywords
CISSPzero-trustthreat modelingEDRSIEMpenetration testingcloud securityIAMincident responseNIST
Security Engineer Salary in Texas Metros
Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay calculator.
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Houston | $149,100 |
| Dallas | $149,100 |
| Austin | $163,300 |
| San Antonio | $132,060 |
| Fort Worth | $144,840 |
| El Paso | $120,700 |
| Arlington | $142,000 |
How to Negotiate Your Security Engineer Salary in Texas
Walk-away anchor: $125,948.
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
Negotiate Beyond Base
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
Security Engineer Salary FAQ — Texas
What is the average Security Engineer salary in Texas?
The average Security Engineer salary in Texas is $144,840 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $94,146 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $238,986 (90th percentile). Texas has no state income tax — increasing take-home meaningfully.
How does Security Engineer pay in Texas compare to the US average?
Security Engineers in Texas earn approximately 2% more than the US national median ($142,000 nationally vs $144,840 in Texas). Texas's cost-of-living index of 93 amplifies the real purchasing power.
Did Security Engineer salaries in Texas increase in 2026?
Yes — Security Engineer salaries in Texas grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $23,361 in 2025 to $144,840 in 2026. This reflects the broader Technology sector's wage growth, driven by zero-trust and cloud security (AWS/GCP) demand.
Which Texas cities pay Security Engineers the most?
Top-paying Texas metros for Security Engineers: Houston ($149K), Dallas ($149K), Austin ($163K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.
What's the job outlook for Security Engineers in Texas?
Security engineer demand projected to grow 32% through 2034 — among the fastest in tech. Severe talent shortage with 700K+ unfilled US cybersecurity roles. Texas's top industries include Energy/Oil & Gas, Tech, Healthcare, and the state's unemployment rate is 4.1% — steady demand for skilled workers.
Does Texas have state income tax?
No, Texas has no state income tax. This significantly boosts take-home pay vs comparable salaries in tax states like California or New York. At $144,840, you keep all of it (after federal + FICA).
What skills are most in demand for Security Engineers in 2026?
Hottest 2026 skills: zero-trust, cloud security (AWS/GCP), threat modeling, EDR/XDR, Kubernetes security, AI security. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Texas employers.
How can I increase my Security Engineer salary in Texas?
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? Beyond base, negotiate: 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. Walk-away anchor for Texas: $125,948.
Methodology
Texas Security Engineer salary is the BLS national median ($142,000) adjusted by Texas's state multiplier (1.02×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.
Security Engineer Salary in Other States
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