Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: Boston, MA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in Boston, MA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$88,000 vs $98,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$54,321 vs $52,406
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$47,683 vs $45,106
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $88,000 | $98,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $74,000▲ | -$7,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $114,000 | $127,000▲ | -$13,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $143,000 | $160,000▲ | -$17,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 187 | -25 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $54,321▲ | $52,406 | +$1,915 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $77,246 | $84,349▲ | -$7,103 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $47,683▲ | $45,106 | +$2,577 |
| Total Employment | 20,000 | 45,000 | -25,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $10,000 more (median: $88,000 vs $98,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 187), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($54,321 vs $52,406 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 6.85%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.