Network Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Network Engineer Salary: Washington, DC vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Network 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
$103,000 vs $119,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$67,763 vs $63,978
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$58,543 vs $53,618
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $103,000 | $119,000▲ | -$16,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $79,310 | $91,630▲ | -$12,320 |
| 75th Percentile | $131,840 | $152,320▲ | -$20,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $164,800 | $190,400▲ | -$25,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 186 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 9.3% | -2.8000000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $67,763▲ | $63,978 | +$3,785 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $88,986 | $99,730▲ | -$10,744 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $58,543▲ | $53,618 | +$4,925 |
| Total Employment | 67,500 | 78,000 | -10,500 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $16,000 more (median: $103,000 vs $119,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 186), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($67,763 vs $63,978 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% 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.