DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Raleigh, NC vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Raleigh, NC and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$120,000 vs $158,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Raleigh, NC
$116,505 vs $84,492
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Raleigh, NC
$102,806 vs $72,723
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $120,000 | $158,000▲ | -$38,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $91,000 | $120,000▲ | -$29,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $155,000 | $205,000▲ | -$50,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $194,000 | $256,000▲ | -$62,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 103 | 187 | -84 |
| State Income Tax | 4.5%▲ | 6.85% | -2.3499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $116,505▲ | $84,492 | +$32,013 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $105,890 | $135,992▲ | -$30,102 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $102,806▲ | $72,723 | +$30,083 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 15,000 | -9,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Raleigh, NC minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $38,000 more (median: $120,000 vs $158,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 103 vs 187), Raleigh, NC provides better purchasing power ($116,505 vs $84,492 equivalent). Raleigh, NC has the lower state tax rate (4.5% vs 6.85%).
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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.