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