DevOps Engineer Salary in San Francisco (2026)
Quick Answer
How much does devops engineer in San Francisco make?
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In 2026, DevOps Engineers in San Francisco earn an average salary of $174,325 per year, with compensation ranging from $125,305 to $242,521, reflecting the city's high demand for tech talent.
Key Facts
- San Francisco's average DevOps Engineer salary is $174,325 per year. ([indeed.com](https://www.indeed.com/career/devops-engineer/salaries/San-Francisco--CA?utm_source=openai))
- Entry-level positions start at approximately $104,257 annually. ([salary.com](https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/devops-engineer-i-salary/san-francisco-ca?utm_source=openai))
- Senior DevOps Engineers can earn up to $137,125 per year. ([salary.com](https://www.salary.com/research/salary/standard/devops-engineer-salary/san-francisco-ca?utm_source=openai))
- The cost of living in San Francisco is 89% higher than the national average. ([salary.com](https://www.salary.com/research/cost-of-living/san-francisco-ca?utm_source=openai))
- Top employers include Accenture and the University of California - San Francisco.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-Level (0–2 years): Approximately $104,257 per year. (salary.com)
Mid-Level (3–5 years): Around $124,823 per year. (salary.com)
Senior-Level (6–9 years): Approximately $130,262 per year. (salary.com)
Lead/Principal (10+ years): Up to $137,125 per year. (salary.com)
How San Francisco Compares
San Francisco's average DevOps Engineer salary of $174,325 is significantly higher than the national average, reflecting the city's high cost of living and demand for tech talent. (indeed.com)
Skills That Command Premium
Cloud Computing: Proficiency in AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Experience with tools like Terraform or Ansible.
Containerization: Knowledge of Docker and Kubernetes.
CI/CD Pipelines: Ability to set up and manage continuous integration and deployment.
Monitoring and Logging: Skills in tools like Prometheus, Grafana, or ELK stack.
Work Culture & Benefits
Top companies in San Francisco offer competitive benefits, including flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and comprehensive health plans, to attract and retain DevOps talent.
Top Hiring Companies
Career Advice
To maximize earning potential, DevOps Engineers should focus on mastering cloud platforms, automation tools, and staying updated with industry trends. Networking within San Francisco's tech community can also open doors to higher-paying opportunities.
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DevOps Engineer Insights — San Francisco
DevOps Engineer salaries in San Francisco range from $125,305 to $242,521, a 67% spread that reflects significant variation based on experience level, specialization, and company size. The median of $174,325 sits below the midpoint, suggesting more positions cluster toward the entry-to-mid-level end of the range.
San Francisco's cost of living index of 59/100 represents moderate living costs. At a median salary of $174,325, devops engineer professionals here enjoy solid purchasing power relative to higher-cost tech hubs.
The hiring landscape for devops engineer in San Francisco is anchored by employers like Accenture, University of California - San Francisco, and StackAI, along with 2 other notable employers. Larger employers in this market typically offer compensation at the upper end of the range, often supplemented with equity, signing bonuses, and comprehensive benefits.
Demand for devops engineer in San Francisco centers around expertise in Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD), Cloud Computing, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), plus 2 other core competencies. Candidates with strong proficiency across these areas tend to command offers closer to the $242,521 ceiling, and have natural transition paths into roles like Site Reliability Engineer or Cloud Engineer.
Related Roles in San Francisco
Explore salary information for similar positions and compare compensation across different roles.
| Role | Location | Salary Range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Manager | San Francisco | $124,264 - $248,937 | $175,881 |
| QA Engineer | San Francisco | $100,000 - $230,000 | $128,000 |
| Data Engineer | San Francisco | $107,180 - $300,000 | $171,054 |
| Backend Engineer | San Francisco | $123,985 - $291,411 | $190,081 |
| UX Designer | San Francisco | $101,000 - $168,000 | $114,579 |
DevOps Engineer Salaries by City
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a DevOps Engineer in San Francisco?
The average salary is $174,325 per year, with a range from $125,305 to $242,521. ([indeed.com](https://www.indeed.com/career/devops-engineer/salaries/San-Francisco--CA?utm_source=openai))
How does the cost of living in San Francisco affect DevOps Engineer salaries?
Due to a cost of living 89% higher than the national average, salaries are adjusted upwards to compensate. ([salary.com](https://www.salary.com/research/cost-of-living/san-francisco-ca?utm_source=openai))
Which companies are top employers for DevOps Engineers in San Francisco?
Notable employers include Accenture and the University of California - San Francisco.
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Data Source & Methodology
Salary data for devops engineer in San Francisco is compiled from multiple verified sources including:
- Public salary reports from major tech employers (FAANG, Fortune 500, and high-growth startups)
- Government labor statistics and occupational wage surveys
- Aggregated self-reported compensation data from verified professionals
- Job posting analysis from major tech job boards and company career pages
All figures represent base salary in USD and are normalized to annual equivalents. Ranges reflect the 25th to 75th percentile of reported compensation, while median values represent the 50th percentile. Data is updated quarterly to reflect current market conditions.
Last updated: April 2026 | Sample size: Varies by role and location (minimum 30 data points required for publication)