Network Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Network Engineer Salary: Portland, OR vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Network Engineers in Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$95,000 vs $119,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$73,077 vs $63,978
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$61,615 vs $53,618
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $95,000 | $119,000▲ | -$24,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,150 | $91,630▲ | -$18,480 |
| 75th Percentile | $121,600 | $152,320▲ | -$30,720 |
| 90th Percentile | $152,000 | $190,400▲ | -$38,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 186 | -56 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75%▲ | 9.3% | -0.5500000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $73,077▲ | $63,978 | +$9,099 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $80,099 | $99,730▲ | -$19,631 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $61,615▲ | $53,618 | +$7,997 |
| Total Employment | 30,000 | 78,000 | -48,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $24,000 more (median: $95,000 vs $119,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 186), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($73,077 vs $63,978 equivalent). Portland, OR has the lower state tax rate (8.75% vs 9.3%).
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.