Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
Denver, CO vs Chicago, IL

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

Denver, CO
$170,977
/ year
+1%
difference
Chicago, IL
$170,018
/ year
Bottom line: Denver wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Denver
Chicago
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$170,977✓ higher
$170,018
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$110,570✓ higher
$109,950
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$264,386✓ higher
$262,903
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$114,086✓ higher
$113,434
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$149,980✓ higher
$147,842
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14×✓ lower
1.15×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$110,570✓ higher
$109,950
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$264,386✓ higher
$262,903

What if you move from Denver to Chicago?

Gross salary change
$959
1% decrease
Take-home change
$652
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$2,138
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

Denver, CO$170,977
P10: $110,570Median: $170,977P90: $264,386
Chicago, IL$170,018
P10: $109,950Median: $170,018P90: $262,903

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median DevOps Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $170,977/yr compared to $170,018/yr in Chicago, IL. Denver pays 1% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Denver salary has the purchasing power of $149,980/yr in a median-cost city, vs $147,842/yr for Chicago. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in Denver, CO takes home approximately $114,086/yr, vs $113,434/yr in Chicago, IL. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.