DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Denver, CO vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Denver, CO and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$132,000 vs $148,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$103,125 vs $91,358
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$91,095 vs $80,194
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $132,000 | $148,000▲ | -$16,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $100,000 | $112,000▲ | -$12,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $172,000 | $192,000▲ | -$20,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $215,000 | $240,000▲ | -$25,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 162 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 5% | -0.5999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $103,125▲ | $91,358 | +$11,767 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $116,601 | $129,914▲ | -$13,313 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $91,095▲ | $80,194 | +$10,901 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 10,000 | -2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $16,000 more (median: $132,000 vs $148,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 162), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($103,125 vs $91,358 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 5%).
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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.