Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
Chicago, IL vs Phoenix, AZ

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

Chicago, IL
$170,018
/ year
+17%
difference
Phoenix, AZ
$145,033
/ year
Bottom line: Phoenix offers better purchasing power despite Chicago paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Chicago
Phoenix
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$170,018✓ higher
$145,033
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$109,950✓ higher
$93,792
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$262,903✓ higher
$224,268
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$113,434✓ higher
$98,247
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$147,842
$149,519✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.15×
0.97×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$109,950✓ higher
$93,792
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$262,903✓ higher
$224,268

What if you move from Chicago to Phoenix?

Gross salary change
$24,985
17% decrease
Take-home change
$15,187
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$1,677
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
Phoenix, AZ$145,033
P10: $93,792Median: $145,033P90: $224,268

More DevOps Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median DevOps Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $170,018/yr compared to $145,033/yr in Phoenix, AZ. Chicago pays 17% more in gross terms.

▶Is a DevOps Engineer salary worth more in Chicago or Phoenix 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 $149,519/yr for Phoenix. Phoenix offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $113,434/yr, vs $98,247/yr in Phoenix, AZ. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.