DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Nashville, TN vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Nashville, TN and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$115,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Nashville, TN
$104,545 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Nashville, TN
$96,600 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Nashville, TN | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $115,000 | $168,000▲ | -$53,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $87,000 | $128,000▲ | -$41,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $149,000 | $218,000▲ | -$69,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $186,000 | $272,000▲ | -$86,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 110 | 186 | -76 |
| State Income Tax | 0%▲ | 9.3% | -9.3% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $104,545▲ | $90,323 | +$14,222 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $106,260 | $140,795▲ | -$34,535 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $96,600▲ | $75,696 | +$20,904 |
| Total Employment | 5,000 | 12,000 | -7,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Nashville, TN minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $53,000 more (median: $115,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 110 vs 186), Nashville, TN provides better purchasing power ($104,545 vs $90,323 equivalent). Nashville, TN has no state income tax, which is a significant advantage.
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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.