Housing
Housing costs dominate the budget at $2,212 monthly, with a 1-bedroom city center apartment running $1,900 and utilities adding $237. Internet access costs $65 monthly, making housing roughly 84% of total living expenses in Florence.
Market ranges & how to evaluate your offer
Most offers in Florence fall between $203k–$371k depending on seniority, location, and role scope.
Local vs National
Florence
Salary data is self-reported and varies by scope, company, and location. Use ranges, not single numbers.
Compare your total comp for Security Software Engineer — pick seniority, enter an offer, and preview the layout. Percentiles use your selected seniority when market data is available.
Seniority-level breakdown for this market.
Cost of living breakdown for Florence, SC market.
Estimated monthly costs for this basket run about 108% of our comparable national baseline—plan for higher everyday spend than typical US markets.
How the estimated monthly cost bundle splits across categories for a typical Security Software Engineer earner.
$2,639.63/ mo
HOUSING
$2,211.96 USD (83.8% of est. monthly costs)
FOOD
$275.92 USD (10.5% of est. monthly costs)
TRANSPORT
$57.00 USD (2.2% of est. monthly costs)
LIFESTYLE
$94.75 USD (3.6% of est. monthly costs)
Housing costs dominate the budget at $2,212 monthly, with a 1-bedroom city center apartment running $1,900 and utilities adding $237. Internet access costs $65 monthly, making housing roughly 84% of total living expenses in Florence.
Food expenses total $276 monthly with basic groceries like milk ($0.84/liter) and eggs ($3.63/dozen) remaining affordable. Restaurant meals average $21, suggesting dining costs stay reasonable compared to larger metros while grocery staples maintain small-town pricing.
Transportation costs just $57 monthly for a public transit pass, reflecting Florence's modest size and limited transit infrastructure. Most professionals likely rely on personal vehicles for daily commuting given the small-city layout.
Leisure spending totals $95 monthly with gym memberships at $25 and movie tickets at $12. Coffee runs $4.60 per cappuccino, keeping discretionary expenses low and affordable for most professional budgets.
Salary data only matters if you land the interview. Get a free AI-powered resume review and see how yours stacks up.
Location-specific ranges with optional cost-of-living adjustment.
Security Software Engineers face varying remote compensation models depending on company security policies and compliance requirements. Tech giants like Google and Microsoft typically offer location-adjusted salaries, paying $180K-220K in San Francisco but $140K-170K for the same role in Austin or Denver. Financial services companies often maintain national pay bands due to strict security clearance requirements, offering consistent $160K-200K regardless of location since security talent is scarce.
The hybrid security model is reshaping compensation trends, with many companies offering 10-15% premiums for engineers willing to be on-site for incident response. Security roles increasingly command location-agnostic pay due to the critical nature of cybersecurity and talent shortage. When negotiating remote Security Software Engineer positions, emphasize your ability to maintain security protocols remotely and highlight experience with distributed security architectures that demonstrate trustworthiness.
Moving from expensive metros like Seattle ($190K average) to lower-cost areas like Nashville or Raleigh while maintaining remote security roles can increase purchasing power by 40-60%. A $170K remote Security Software Engineer salary in North Carolina provides equivalent lifestyle to $280K in San Francisco, while many companies now recognize that security expertise transcends geography and pay accordingly for top talent.
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How adjacent roles compare in pay and scope.
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High overlap in software-engineer roles
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High overlap in software-engineer roles
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High overlap in software-engineer roles
Details$102k-$316k
High overlap in software-engineer roles
Details$123k-$420k
High overlap in software-engineer roles
Details$105k-$420k
High overlap in software-engineer roles
DetailsPractical steps that move the number without damaging the relationship.
Start your ask above the median. You'll rarely be offered more than you ask, so anchor high and let the employer negotiate you down.
Stronger approach:
Say 'market data puts this role at $X–$Y' — not 'I was hoping for more'. External benchmarks are harder to argue against than personal expectations.
Stronger approach:
When base is stuck, negotiate equity vesting schedule, signing bonus, or accelerated refresh grants. Total comp has more levers than base alone.
Stronger approach:
Ask for 48 hours to review. This creates time to counter and signals that you take offers seriously — not that you are uncertain.
Stronger approach:
Generate an aware negotiation email using Google market positioning data.
Mock interviews tailored to Google's process and evaluation criteria.
Common questions about Security Software Engineer compensation.
Tools built for professionals evaluating offers and preparing for interviews.
Our AI Interview Copilot listens to your live interview and feeds you real-time answers, so you walk in confident and walk out with the offer.
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