DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: San Francisco, CA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in San Francisco, CA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$168,000 vs $158,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$90,323 vs $84,492
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$75,696 vs $72,723
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $168,000▲ | $158,000 | +$10,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,000▲ | $120,000 | +$8,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $218,000▲ | $205,000 | +$13,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $272,000▲ | $256,000 | +$16,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 186 | 187 | -1 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3% | 6.85%▲ | +2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $90,323▲ | $84,492 | +$5,831 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $140,795▲ | $135,992 | +$4,803 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $75,696▲ | $72,723 | +$2,973 |
| Total Employment | 12,000 | 15,000 | -3,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = San Francisco, CA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $10,000 more (median: $168,000 vs $158,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 186 vs 187), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($90,323 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.