DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Austin, TX vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Austin, TX and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$138,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Austin, TX
$111,290 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Austin, TX
$102,832 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $138,000 | $168,000▲ | -$30,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $105,000 | $128,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $178,000 | $218,000▲ | -$40,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $222,000 | $272,000▲ | -$50,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 124 | 186 | -62 |
| State Income Tax | 0%▲ | 9.3% | -9.3% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $111,290▲ | $90,323 | +$20,967 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $127,512 | $140,795▲ | -$13,283 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $102,832▲ | $75,696 | +$27,136 |
| Total Employment | 10,000 | 12,000 | -2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Austin, TX minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $30,000 more (median: $138,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 124 vs 186), Austin, TX provides better purchasing power ($111,290 vs $90,323 equivalent). Austin, TX has no state income tax, which is a significant advantage.
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Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.