DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: San Diego, CA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in San Diego, CA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$140,000 vs $158,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Diego, CA
$92,105 vs $84,492
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Diego, CA
$77,191 vs $72,723
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Diego, CA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $140,000 | $158,000▲ | -$18,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,000 | $120,000▲ | -$13,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $182,000 | $205,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $227,000 | $256,000▲ | -$29,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 187 | -35 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3% | 6.85%▲ | +2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $92,105▲ | $84,492 | +$7,613 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $117,330 | $135,992▲ | -$18,662 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $77,191▲ | $72,723 | +$4,468 |
| Total Employment | 7,000 | 15,000 | -8,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = San Diego, CA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $18,000 more (median: $140,000 vs $158,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 187), San Diego, CA provides better purchasing power ($92,105 vs $84,492 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.