DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Salt Lake City, UT vs Austin, TX
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Salt Lake City, UT and Austin, TX, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Austin, TX
$115,000 vs $138,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Austin, TX
$102,679 vs $111,290
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Austin, TX
$90,463 vs $102,832
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | Austin, TX | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $115,000 | $138,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $87,000 | $105,000▲ | -$18,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $149,000 | $178,000▲ | -$29,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $186,000 | $222,000▲ | -$36,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 112 | 124 | -12 |
| State Income Tax | 4.65% | 0%▲ | +4.65% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $102,679 | $111,290▲ | -$8,611 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $101,319 | $127,512▲ | -$26,193 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $90,463 | $102,832▲ | -$12,369 |
| Total Employment | 5,000 | 10,000 | -5,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Salt Lake City, UT minus Austin, TX.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Austin, TX pays $23,000 more (median: $115,000 vs $138,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 112 vs 124), Austin, TX provides better purchasing power ($102,679 vs $111,290 equivalent). Austin, TX has no state income tax, which is a significant advantage.
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.