DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Denver, CO vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Denver, CO and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$132,000 vs $158,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$103,125 vs $84,492
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$91,095 vs $72,723
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $132,000 | $158,000▲ | -$26,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $100,000 | $120,000▲ | -$20,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $172,000 | $205,000▲ | -$33,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $215,000 | $256,000▲ | -$41,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 187 | -59 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $103,125▲ | $84,492 | +$18,633 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $116,601 | $135,992▲ | -$19,391 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $91,095▲ | $72,723 | +$18,372 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 15,000 | -7,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $26,000 more (median: $132,000 vs $158,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 187), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($103,125 vs $84,492 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 6.85%).
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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.