DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: San Francisco, CA vs Austin, TX
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in San Francisco, CA and Austin, TX, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$168,000 vs $138,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Austin, TX
$90,323 vs $111,290
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Austin, TX
$75,696 vs $102,832
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Austin, TX | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $168,000▲ | $138,000 | +$30,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,000▲ | $105,000 | +$23,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $218,000▲ | $178,000 | +$40,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $272,000▲ | $222,000 | +$50,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 186 | 124 | +62 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3% | 0%▲ | +9.3% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $90,323 | $111,290▲ | -$20,967 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $140,795▲ | $127,512 | +$13,283 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $75,696 | $102,832▲ | -$27,136 |
| Total Employment | 12,000 | 10,000 | +2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = San Francisco, CA minus Austin, TX.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $30,000 more (median: $168,000 vs $138,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 186 vs 124), Austin, TX provides better purchasing power ($90,323 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.