DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Washington, DC vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Washington, DC and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$148,000 vs $158,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$97,368 vs $84,492
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$84,120 vs $72,723
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $148,000 | $158,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $112,000 | $120,000▲ | -$8,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $192,000 | $205,000▲ | -$13,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $240,000 | $256,000▲ | -$16,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 187 | -35 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 6.85% | -0.34999999999999964% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $97,368▲ | $84,492 | +$12,876 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $127,863 | $135,992▲ | -$8,129 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $84,120▲ | $72,723 | +$11,397 |
| Total Employment | 12,000 | 15,000 | -3,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $10,000 more (median: $148,000 vs $158,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 187), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($97,368 vs $84,492 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% vs 6.85%).
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.