Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Boston, MA

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

Seattle, WA
$206,635
/ year
+6%
difference
Boston, MA
$194,492
/ year
Bottom line: Seattle wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Seattle
Boston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$206,635✓ higher
$194,492
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$133,630✓ higher
$125,777
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$319,524✓ higher
$300,747
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$138,333✓ higher
$130,076
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$145,518✓ higher
$138,923
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
1.40×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$133,630✓ higher
$125,777
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$319,524✓ higher
$300,747

What if you move from Seattle to Boston?

Gross salary change
$12,143
6% decrease
Take-home change
$8,257
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$6,595
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

Seattle, WA$206,635
P10: $133,630Median: $206,635P90: $319,524
Boston, MA$194,492
P10: $125,777Median: $194,492P90: $300,747

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a DevOps Engineer earn more in Seattle or Boston?

The median DevOps Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $206,635/yr compared to $194,492/yr in Boston, MA. Seattle pays 6% more in gross terms.

▶Is a DevOps Engineer salary worth more in Seattle or Boston after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $145,518/yr in a median-cost city, vs $138,923/yr for Boston. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a DevOps Engineer in Seattle vs Boston?

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $138,333/yr, vs $130,076/yr in Boston, MA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.