DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Chicago, IL vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Chicago, IL and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$125,000 vs $158,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$116,822 vs $84,492
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$102,601 vs $72,723
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $125,000 | $158,000▲ | -$33,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $95,000 | $120,000▲ | -$25,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $162,000 | $205,000▲ | -$43,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $203,000 | $256,000▲ | -$53,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 187 | -80 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8999999999999995% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $116,822▲ | $84,492 | +$32,330 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $109,783 | $135,992▲ | -$26,209 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $102,601▲ | $72,723 | +$29,878 |
| Total Employment | 9,000 | 15,000 | -6,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $33,000 more (median: $125,000 vs $158,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 187), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($116,822 vs $84,492 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% vs 6.85%).
4More DevOps Engineer City Comparisons
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.