Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
Boston, MA vs Denver, CO

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

Boston, MA
$194,492
/ year
+6%
difference
Denver, CO
$183,276
/ year
Bottom line: Denver offers better purchasing power despite Boston paying more gross. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Boston
Denver
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$194,492โœ“ higher
$183,276
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$125,777โœ“ higher
$118,524
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$300,747โœ“ higher
$283,404
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$130,076โœ“ higher
$122,449
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$138,923
$160,768โœ“ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40ร—
1.14ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$125,777โœ“ higher
$118,524
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$300,747โœ“ higher
$283,404

What if you move from Boston to Denver?

Gross salary change
$11,216
6% decrease
Take-home change
$7,627
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$21,845
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 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Boston, MA$194,492
P10: $125,777Median: $194,492P90: $300,747
Denver, CO$183,276
P10: $118,524Median: $183,276P90: $283,404

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a DevOps Engineer earn more in Boston or Denver?

The median DevOps Engineer salary in Boston, MA is $194,492/yr compared to $183,276/yr in Denver, CO. Boston pays 6% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a DevOps Engineer salary worth more in Boston or Denver after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $138,923/yr in a median-cost city, vs $160,768/yr for Denver. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a DevOps Engineer in Boston vs Denver?

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $130,076/yr, vs $122,449/yr in Denver, CO. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.