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