Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: Portland, OR vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in Portland, OR and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$72,000 vs $98,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$55,385 vs $52,406
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$46,698 vs $45,106
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $72,000 | $98,000▲ | -$26,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 | $74,000▲ | -$19,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $93,000 | $127,000▲ | -$34,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $117,000 | $160,000▲ | -$43,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 187 | -57 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75% | 6.85%▲ | +1.9000000000000004% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $55,385▲ | $52,406 | +$2,979 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $60,707 | $84,349▲ | -$23,642 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $46,698▲ | $45,106 | +$1,592 |
| Total Employment | 10,000 | 45,000 | -35,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $26,000 more (median: $72,000 vs $98,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 187), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($55,385 vs $52,406 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% vs 8.75%).
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.