Engineering · Salary Guide · Austin
DevOps Engineer Salary in Austin
Austin's compensation has compressed somewhat since the 2022–2023 tech relocation wave, but it remains one of the best COL-adjusted markets in the US. Base salaries are 70–80% of SF levels, but zero state income tax and housing costs roughly 45% lower than SF push effective take-home pay within 10% of SF for many roles. Tesla, Apple, Oracle, and Indeed anchor the market; a growing remote-work ecosystem means many Austin-based engineers work for out-of-state employers while paying Texas tax rates. A 1BR averages $1,650/month.
Median base in Austin
$176k
Cost of living index
115
US = 100
Market multiplier
1.05x
vs US national
Salary by experience level in Austin
| Experience level | Base salary (US national) |
|---|---|
| Entry (0–2 yrs) | $105k – $158k |
| Mid (3–5 yrs) | $147k – $215k |
| Senior (6–9 yrs) | $194k – $299k |
| Staff / Principal (10+ yrs) | $273k – $473k |
Adjusted from national ranges using the Austin market multiplier (1.05x).
Tax and take-home considerations
No state income tax. Lower COL than coastal markets boosts effective take-home pay meaningfully.
Dominant employers in Austin
Lower base salaries but strong take-home due to zero state tax and ~40% lower housing costs than SF.
FAQ
What is the average devops engineer salary in Austin?
The median base salary for a devops engineer in Austin is approximately $176k in 2026. Austin's compensation has compressed somewhat since the 2022–2023 tech relocation wave, but it remains one of the best COL-adjusted markets in the US.
Does Austin have state income tax for devops engineers?
No state income tax. Lower COL than coastal markets boosts effective take-home pay meaningfully.
Which companies hire the most devops engineers in Austin?
The dominant employers in Austin are Tesla, Apple, Oracle, Indeed, Dell. Lower base salaries but strong take-home due to zero state tax and ~40% lower housing costs than SF.
What is the average DevOps engineer salary in the US?
As of 2026, the median base salary for a US DevOps/platform engineer is about $168,000, with mid-level ranges of $140k–$205k. Total compensation at Big Tech and infrastructure companies typically runs 35–60% higher through equity and on-call differentials.
Do DevOps engineers make more than software engineers?
At companies with a formal SRE ladder (Google, Meta, Stripe), DevOps and SRE roles sit at the same band as SWE and sometimes land 5–10% higher due to on-call. At companies where 'DevOps engineer' is a separate, lower ladder, they can earn 5–15% less than same-level product SWEs.
Related DevOps Engineer Resources
Negotiate your Austin offer with data
Your resume should signal the level your target compensation reflects. Rolevanta tailors each application to the exact JD and market.
Build Your Resume Free