DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Dallas, TX vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Dallas, TX and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$130,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Dallas, TX
$116,071 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Dallas, TX
$107,250 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $130,000 | $168,000▲ | -$38,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $99,000 | $128,000▲ | -$29,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $168,000 | $218,000▲ | -$50,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $210,000 | $272,000▲ | -$62,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 112 | 186 | -74 |
| State Income Tax | 0%▲ | 9.3% | -9.3% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $116,071▲ | $90,323 | +$25,748 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $120,120 | $140,795▲ | -$20,675 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $107,250▲ | $75,696 | +$31,554 |
| Total Employment | 10,000 | 12,000 | -2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Dallas, TX minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $38,000 more (median: $130,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 112 vs 186), Dallas, TX provides better purchasing power ($116,071 vs $90,323 equivalent). Dallas, 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.