Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$88,000 vs $95,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$54,321 vs $51,075
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$47,683 vs $42,804
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $88,000 | $95,000▲ | -$7,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $72,000▲ | -$5,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $114,000 | $123,000▲ | -$9,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $143,000 | $155,000▲ | -$12,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 186 | -24 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $54,321▲ | $51,075 | +$3,246 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $77,246 | $79,616▲ | -$2,370 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $47,683▲ | $42,804 | +$4,879 |
| Total Employment | 20,000 | 18,000 | +2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $7,000 more (median: $88,000 vs $95,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 186), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($54,321 vs $51,075 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 9.3%).
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.