DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Chicago, IL vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$125,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$116,822 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$102,601 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $125,000 | $168,000▲ | -$43,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $95,000 | $128,000▲ | -$33,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $162,000 | $218,000▲ | -$56,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $203,000 | $272,000▲ | -$69,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 186 | -79 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 9.3% | -4.3500000000000005% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $116,822▲ | $90,323 | +$26,499 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $109,783 | $140,795▲ | -$31,012 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $102,601▲ | $75,696 | +$26,905 |
| Total Employment | 9,000 | 12,000 | -3,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $43,000 more (median: $125,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 186), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($116,822 vs $90,323 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% vs 9.3%).
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.