Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$98,000 vs $95,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ New York, NY
$52,406 vs $51,075
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ New York, NY
$45,106 vs $42,804
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $98,000▲ | $95,000 | +$3,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,000▲ | $72,000 | +$2,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,000▲ | $123,000 | +$4,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $160,000▲ | $155,000 | +$5,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 186 | +1 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85%▲ | 9.3% | -2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $52,406▲ | $51,075 | +$1,331 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $84,349▲ | $79,616 | +$4,733 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $45,106▲ | $42,804 | +$2,302 |
| Total Employment | 45,000 | 18,000 | +27,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $3,000 more (median: $98,000 vs $95,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 186), New York, NY provides better purchasing power ($52,406 vs $51,075 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% 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.