DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: San Francisco, CA vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in San Francisco, CA and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$168,000 vs $132,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$90,323 vs $103,125
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$75,696 vs $91,095
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $168,000▲ | $132,000 | +$36,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,000▲ | $100,000 | +$28,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $218,000▲ | $172,000 | +$46,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $272,000▲ | $215,000 | +$57,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 186 | 128 | +58 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3% | 4.4%▲ | +4.9% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $90,323 | $103,125▲ | -$12,802 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $140,795▲ | $116,601 | +$24,194 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $75,696 | $91,095▲ | -$15,399 |
| Total Employment | 12,000 | 8,000 | +4,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = San Francisco, CA minus Denver, CO.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $36,000 more (median: $168,000 vs $132,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 186 vs 128), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($90,323 vs $103,125 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% 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.