DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Nashville, TN vs Austin, TX
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Nashville, TN and Austin, TX, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Austin, TX
$115,000 vs $138,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Austin, TX
$104,545 vs $111,290
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Austin, TX
$96,600 vs $102,832
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Nashville, TN | Austin, TX | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $115,000 | $138,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $87,000 | $105,000▲ | -$18,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $149,000 | $178,000▲ | -$29,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $186,000 | $222,000▲ | -$36,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 110 | 124 | -14 |
| State Income Tax | 0%▲ | 0% | — |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $104,545 | $111,290▲ | -$6,745 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $106,260 | $127,512▲ | -$21,252 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $96,600 | $102,832▲ | -$6,232 |
| Total Employment | 5,000 | 10,000 | -5,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Nashville, TN minus Austin, TX.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Austin, TX pays $23,000 more (median: $115,000 vs $138,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 110 vs 124), Austin, TX provides better purchasing power ($104,545 vs $111,290 equivalent). Nashville, TN 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.