DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Denver, CO vs Austin, TX
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Denver, CO and Austin, TX, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Austin, TX
$132,000 vs $138,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Austin, TX
$103,125 vs $111,290
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Austin, TX
$91,095 vs $102,832
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Austin, TX | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $132,000 | $138,000▲ | -$6,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $100,000 | $105,000▲ | -$5,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $172,000 | $178,000▲ | -$6,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $215,000 | $222,000▲ | -$7,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 124 | +4 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4% | 0%▲ | +4.4% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $103,125 | $111,290▲ | -$8,165 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $116,601 | $127,512▲ | -$10,911 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $91,095 | $102,832▲ | -$11,737 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 10,000 | -2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus Austin, TX.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Austin, TX pays $6,000 more (median: $132,000 vs $138,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 124), Austin, TX provides better purchasing power ($103,125 vs $111,290 equivalent). Austin, TX has no state income tax, which is a significant advantage.
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.