Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
Denver, CO vs Phoenix, AZ

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

Denver, CO
$170,977
/ year
+18%
difference
Phoenix, AZ
$145,033
/ 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
Phoenix
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$170,977✓ higher
$145,033
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$110,570✓ higher
$93,792
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$264,386✓ higher
$224,268
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$114,086✓ higher
$98,247
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$149,980✓ higher
$149,519
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14×
0.97×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$110,570✓ higher
$93,792
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$264,386✓ higher
$224,268

What if you move from Denver to Phoenix?

Gross salary change
$25,944
18% decrease
Take-home change
$15,839
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$461
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
Phoenix, AZ$145,033
P10: $93,792Median: $145,033P90: $224,268

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median DevOps Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $170,977/yr compared to $145,033/yr in Phoenix, AZ. Denver pays 18% more in gross terms.

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

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

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in Denver, CO takes home approximately $114,086/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.