Salary Comparison

DevOps Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Melbourne

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

Seattle, WA
$206,055
/ year
+37%
difference
Melbourne
$150,916
/ year
Bottom line: Seattle wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Seattle
Melbourne
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$206,055โœ“ higher
$150,916
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$133,255โœ“ higher
$97,597
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$318,628โœ“ higher
$233,365
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$137,939โœ“ higher
$93,568
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$145,109โœ“ higher
$120,733
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42ร—
1.25ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$133,255
$148,347โœ“ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$318,628
$354,715โœ“ higher

What if you move from Seattle to Melbourne?

Gross salary change
$55,139
37% decrease
Take-home change
$44,371
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$24,376
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 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Seattle, WA$206,055
P10: $133,255Median: $206,055P90: $318,628
Melbourne$150,916
P10: $148,347Median: $150,916P90: $354,715

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a DevOps Engineer earn more in Seattle or Melbourne?

The median DevOps Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $206,055/yr compared to A$229,392/yr in Melbourne. Seattle pays 37% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a DevOps Engineer salary worth more in Seattle or Melbourne after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $145,109/yr in a median-cost city, vs $120,733/yr for Melbourne. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a DevOps Engineer in Seattle vs Melbourne?

After estimated taxes, a DevOps Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $137,939/yr, vs $93,568/yr in Melbourne. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.