Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
Chicago, IL vs Houston, TX

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

Chicago, IL
$170,018
/ year
+20%
difference
Houston, TX
$142,103
/ year
Bottom line: Chicago wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Chicago
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$170,018✓ higher
$142,103
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$109,950✓ higher
$91,897
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$262,903✓ higher
$219,737
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$113,434✓ higher
$96,479
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$147,842✓ higher
$145,003
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.15×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$109,950✓ higher
$91,897
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$262,903✓ higher
$219,737

What if you move from Chicago to Houston?

Gross salary change
$27,915
20% decrease
Take-home change
$16,955
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$2,839
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

Chicago, IL$170,018
P10: $109,950Median: $170,018P90: $262,903
Houston, TX$142,103
P10: $91,897Median: $142,103P90: $219,737

More DevOps Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a DevOps Engineer earn more in Chicago or Houston?

The median DevOps Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $170,018/yr compared to $142,103/yr in Houston, TX. Chicago pays 20% more in gross terms.

▶Is a DevOps Engineer salary worth more in Chicago or Houston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Chicago salary has the purchasing power of $147,842/yr in a median-cost city, vs $145,003/yr for Houston. Chicago offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a DevOps Engineer in Chicago vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $113,434/yr, vs $96,479/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.