Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: Richmond, VA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in Richmond, VA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$66,000 vs $98,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Richmond, VA
$65,347 vs $52,406
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Richmond, VA
$56,908 vs $45,106
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $66,000 | $98,000▲ | -$32,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $74,000▲ | -$24,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $85,000 | $127,000▲ | -$42,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $107,000 | $160,000▲ | -$53,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 187 | -86 |
| State Income Tax | 5.75%▲ | 6.85% | -1.0999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $65,347▲ | $52,406 | +$12,941 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $57,477 | $84,349▲ | -$26,872 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $56,908▲ | $45,106 | +$11,802 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 45,000 | -37,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Richmond, VA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $32,000 more (median: $66,000 vs $98,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 101 vs 187), Richmond, VA provides better purchasing power ($65,347 vs $52,406 equivalent). Richmond, VA has the lower state tax rate (5.75% 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.