DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$158,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$84,492 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$72,723 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $158,000 | $168,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $120,000 | $128,000▲ | -$8,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $205,000 | $218,000▲ | -$13,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $256,000 | $272,000▲ | -$16,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 186 | +1 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85%▲ | 9.3% | -2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $84,492 | $90,323▲ | -$5,831 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $135,992 | $140,795▲ | -$4,803 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $72,723 | $75,696▲ | -$2,973 |
| Total Employment | 15,000 | 12,000 | +3,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $10,000 more (median: $158,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($84,492 vs $90,323 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% 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.