DevOps Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
DevOps Engineer Salary: Washington, DC vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for DevOps Engineers in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$148,000 vs $168,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$97,368 vs $90,323
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$84,120 vs $75,696
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $148,000 | $168,000▲ | -$20,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $112,000 | $128,000▲ | -$16,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $192,000 | $218,000▲ | -$26,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $240,000 | $272,000▲ | -$32,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 186 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 9.3% | -2.8000000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $97,368▲ | $90,323 | +$7,045 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $127,863 | $140,795▲ | -$12,932 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $84,120▲ | $75,696 | +$8,424 |
| Total Employment | 12,000 | 12,000 | — |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $20,000 more (median: $148,000 vs $168,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 186), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($97,368 vs $90,323 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% 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.