DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Columbus, OH vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Columbus, OH and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$110,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Columbus, OH
$120,879 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Columbus, OH
$107,236 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $110,000 | $168,000▲ | -$58,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $84,000 | $128,000▲ | -$44,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $142,000 | $218,000▲ | -$76,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $178,000 | $272,000▲ | -$94,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 91 | 186 | -95 |
| State Income Tax | 3.99%▲ | 9.3% | -5.3100000000000005% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $120,879▲ | $90,323 | +$30,556 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $97,585 | $140,795▲ | -$43,210 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $107,236▲ | $75,696 | +$31,540 |
| Total Employment | 5,000 | 12,000 | -7,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Columbus, OH minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $58,000 more (median: $110,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 91 vs 186), Columbus, OH provides better purchasing power ($120,879 vs $90,323 equivalent). Columbus, OH has the lower state tax rate (3.99% vs 9.3%).
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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.