Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
New York, NY vs Chicago, IL

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

New York, NY
$219,393
/ year
+29%
difference
Chicago, IL
$170,018
/ year
Bottom line: New York wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
New York
Chicago
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$219,393✓ higher
$170,018
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$141,880✓ higher
$109,950
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$339,252✓ higher
$262,903
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$147,009✓ higher
$113,434
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$151,306✓ higher
$147,842
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.45×
1.15×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$141,880✓ higher
$109,950
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$339,252✓ higher
$262,903

What if you move from New York to Chicago?

Gross salary change
$49,375
29% decrease
Take-home change
$33,575
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$3,464
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

New York, NY$219,393
P10: $141,880Median: $219,393P90: $339,252
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 New York or Chicago?

The median DevOps Engineer salary in New York, NY is $219,393/yr compared to $170,018/yr in Chicago, IL. New York pays 29% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your New York salary has the purchasing power of $151,306/yr in a median-cost city, vs $147,842/yr for Chicago. New York offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in New York, NY takes home approximately $147,009/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.