Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
San Francisco, CA vs Houston, TX

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

San Francisco, CA
$246,497
/ year
+73%
difference
Houston, TX
$142,103
/ year
Bottom line: San Francisco wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
San Francisco
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$246,497✓ higher
$142,103
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$159,408✓ higher
$91,897
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$381,164✓ higher
$219,737
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$164,982✓ higher
$96,479
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$146,724✓ higher
$145,003
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.68×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$159,408✓ higher
$91,897
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$381,164✓ higher
$219,737

What if you move from San Francisco to Houston?

Gross salary change
$104,394
73% decrease
Take-home change
$68,503
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,721
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

San Francisco, CA$246,497
P10: $159,408Median: $246,497P90: $381,164
Houston, TX$142,103
P10: $91,897Median: $142,103P90: $219,737

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a DevOps Engineer earn more in San Francisco or Houston?

The median DevOps Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA is $246,497/yr compared to $142,103/yr in Houston, TX. San Francisco pays 73% more in gross terms.

▶Is a DevOps Engineer salary worth more in San Francisco or Houston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your San Francisco salary has the purchasing power of $146,724/yr in a median-cost city, vs $145,003/yr for Houston. San Francisco offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a DevOps Engineer in San Francisco vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in San Francisco, CA takes home approximately $164,982/yr, vs $96,479/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.