Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Chicago, IL

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

Seattle, WA
$206,635
/ year
+30%
difference
Chicago, IL
$158,634
/ 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
Chicago
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$206,635✓ higher
$158,634
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$133,630✓ higher
$102,588
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$319,524✓ higher
$245,299
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$138,333✓ higher
$106,455
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$145,518✓ higher
$137,943
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
1.15×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$133,630✓ higher
$102,588
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$319,524✓ higher
$245,299

What if you move from Seattle to Chicago?

Gross salary change
$48,001
30% decrease
Take-home change
$31,878
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$7,575
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
Chicago, IL$158,634
P10: $102,588Median: $158,634P90: $245,299

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median DevOps Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $206,635/yr compared to $158,634/yr in Chicago, IL. Seattle pays 30% more in gross terms.

▶Is a DevOps Engineer salary worth more in Seattle or Chicago 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 $137,943/yr for Chicago. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $138,333/yr, vs $106,455/yr in Chicago, IL. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.