Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
Denver, CO vs Los Angeles, CA

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

Denver, CO
$170,977
/ year
-15%
difference
Los Angeles, CA
$201,403
/ year
Bottom line: Denver offers better purchasing power (your money goes further) even if gross salary differs. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Denver
Los Angeles
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$170,977
$201,403✓ higher
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$110,570
$130,246✓ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$264,386
$311,434✓ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$114,086
$134,776✓ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$149,980✓ higher
$145,944
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14×✓ lower
1.38×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$110,570
$130,246✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$264,386
$311,434✓ higher

What if you move from Denver to Los Angeles?

Gross salary change
+$30,426
15% increase
Take-home change
+$20,690
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$4,036
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
Los Angeles, CA$201,403
P10: $130,246Median: $201,403P90: $311,434

More DevOps Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a DevOps Engineer earn more in Denver or Los Angeles?

The median DevOps Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $170,977/yr compared to $201,403/yr in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles pays 15% more in gross terms.

▶Is a DevOps Engineer salary worth more in Denver or Los Angeles 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 $145,944/yr for Los Angeles. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in Denver, CO takes home approximately $114,086/yr, vs $134,776/yr in Los Angeles, CA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.