DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Portland, OR vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$135,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$103,846 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$87,558 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $135,000 | $168,000▲ | -$33,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $103,000 | $128,000▲ | -$25,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $175,000 | $218,000▲ | -$43,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $218,000 | $272,000▲ | -$54,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 186 | -56 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75%▲ | 9.3% | -0.5500000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $103,846▲ | $90,323 | +$13,523 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $113,825 | $140,795▲ | -$26,970 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $87,558▲ | $75,696 | +$11,862 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 12,000 | -6,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $33,000 more (median: $135,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 186), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($103,846 vs $90,323 equivalent). Portland, OR has the lower state tax rate (8.75% 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.