DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Los Angeles, CA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Los Angeles, CA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$145,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$83,815 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$70,243 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $145,000 | $168,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $110,000 | $128,000▲ | -$18,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $188,000 | $218,000▲ | -$30,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $235,000 | $272,000▲ | -$37,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 173 | 186 | -13 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3%▲ | 9.3% | — |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $83,815 | $90,323▲ | -$6,508 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $121,520 | $140,795▲ | -$19,275 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $70,243 | $75,696▲ | -$5,453 |
| Total Employment | 12,000 | 12,000 | — |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Los Angeles, CA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $23,000 more (median: $145,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 173 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($83,815 vs $90,323 equivalent). San Francisco, CA has the lower state tax rate (9.3% vs 9.3%).
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.