Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
Austin, TX vs Los Angeles, CA

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Austin, TX
$163,838
/ year
-19%
difference
Los Angeles, CA
$201,403
/ year
Bottom line: Austin offers better purchasing power (your money goes further) even if gross salary differs. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Austin
Los Angeles
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$163,838
$201,403✓ higher
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$105,953
$130,246✓ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$253,347
$311,434✓ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$109,596
$134,776✓ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$146,284✓ higher
$145,944
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.12×✓ lower
1.38×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$105,953
$130,246✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$253,347
$311,434✓ higher

What if you move from Austin to Los Angeles?

Gross salary change
+$37,565
19% increase
Take-home change
+$25,180
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$340
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Austin, TX$163,838
P10: $105,953Median: $163,838P90: $253,347
Los Angeles, CA$201,403
P10: $130,246Median: $201,403P90: $311,434

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a DevOps Engineer earn more in Austin or Los Angeles?

The median DevOps Engineer salary in Austin, TX is $163,838/yr compared to $201,403/yr in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles pays 19% more in gross terms.

▶Is a DevOps Engineer salary worth more in Austin or Los Angeles after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Austin salary has the purchasing power of $146,284/yr in a median-cost city, vs $145,944/yr for Los Angeles. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a DevOps Engineer in Austin vs Los Angeles?

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in Austin, TX takes home approximately $109,596/yr, vs $134,776/yr in Los Angeles, CA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.