DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Seattle, WA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Seattle, WA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$162,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Seattle, WA
$100,000 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Seattle, WA
$92,400 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $162,000 | $168,000▲ | -$6,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $123,000 | $128,000▲ | -$5,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $210,000 | $218,000▲ | -$8,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $262,000 | $272,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 186 | -24 |
| State Income Tax | 0%▲ | 9.3% | -9.3% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $100,000▲ | $90,323 | +$9,677 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $149,688▲ | $140,795 | +$8,893 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $92,400▲ | $75,696 | +$16,704 |
| Total Employment | 13,000 | 12,000 | +1,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Seattle, WA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $6,000 more (median: $162,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 186), Seattle, WA provides better purchasing power ($100,000 vs $90,323 equivalent). Seattle, WA has no state income tax, which is a significant advantage.
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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.