Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: Salt Lake City, UT vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in Salt Lake City, UT and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$65,000 vs $98,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Salt Lake City, UT
$58,036 vs $52,406
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Salt Lake City, UT
$51,131 vs $45,106
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $65,000 | $98,000▲ | -$33,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $50,000 | $74,000▲ | -$24,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $84,000 | $127,000▲ | -$43,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $106,000 | $160,000▲ | -$54,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 112 | 187 | -75 |
| State Income Tax | 4.65%▲ | 6.85% | -2.1999999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $58,036▲ | $52,406 | +$5,630 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $57,267 | $84,349▲ | -$27,082 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $51,131▲ | $45,106 | +$6,025 |
| Total Employment | 9,000 | 45,000 | -36,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Salt Lake City, UT minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $33,000 more (median: $65,000 vs $98,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 112 vs 187), Salt Lake City, UT provides better purchasing power ($58,036 vs $52,406 equivalent). Salt Lake City, UT has the lower state tax rate (4.65% 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.