Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
Chicago, IL vs Philadelphia, PA

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

Chicago, IL
$170,018
/ year
+10%
difference
Philadelphia, PA
$154,890
/ 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
Philadelphia
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$170,018✓ higher
$154,890
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$109,950✓ higher
$100,167
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$262,903✓ higher
$239,510
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$113,434✓ higher
$104,196
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$147,842✓ higher
$143,417
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.15×
1.08×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$109,950✓ higher
$100,167
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$262,903✓ higher
$239,510

What if you move from Chicago to Philadelphia?

Gross salary change
$15,128
10% decrease
Take-home change
$9,238
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$4,425
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
Philadelphia, PA$154,890
P10: $100,167Median: $154,890P90: $239,510

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median DevOps Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $170,018/yr compared to $154,890/yr in Philadelphia, PA. Chicago pays 10% more in gross terms.

▶Is a DevOps Engineer salary worth more in Chicago or Philadelphia 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 $143,417/yr for Philadelphia. Chicago offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $113,434/yr, vs $104,196/yr in Philadelphia, PA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.