DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Louisville, KY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Louisville, KY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$98,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Louisville, KY
$112,644 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Louisville, KY
$99,920 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Louisville, KY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $98,000 | $168,000▲ | -$70,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,000 | $128,000▲ | -$54,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,000 | $218,000▲ | -$91,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $159,000 | $272,000▲ | -$113,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 87 | 186 | -99 |
| State Income Tax | 4%▲ | 9.3% | -5.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $112,644▲ | $90,323 | +$22,321 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $86,930 | $140,795▲ | -$53,865 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $99,920▲ | $75,696 | +$24,224 |
| Total Employment | 3,000 | 12,000 | -9,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Louisville, KY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $70,000 more (median: $98,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 87 vs 186), Louisville, KY provides better purchasing power ($112,644 vs $90,323 equivalent). Louisville, KY has the lower state tax rate (4% vs 9.3%).
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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.