DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Raleigh, NC vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Raleigh, NC and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$120,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Raleigh, NC
$116,505 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Raleigh, NC
$102,806 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $120,000 | $168,000▲ | -$48,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $91,000 | $128,000▲ | -$37,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $155,000 | $218,000▲ | -$63,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $194,000 | $272,000▲ | -$78,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 103 | 186 | -83 |
| State Income Tax | 4.5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.800000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $116,505▲ | $90,323 | +$26,182 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $105,890 | $140,795▲ | -$34,905 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $102,806▲ | $75,696 | +$27,110 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 12,000 | -6,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Raleigh, NC minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $48,000 more (median: $120,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 103 vs 186), Raleigh, NC provides better purchasing power ($116,505 vs $90,323 equivalent). Raleigh, NC has the lower state tax rate (4.5% 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.