Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: San Francisco, CA vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in San Francisco, CA and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$95,000 vs $88,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$51,075 vs $54,321
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$42,804 vs $47,683
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $95,000▲ | $88,000 | +$7,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,000▲ | $67,000 | +$5,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $123,000▲ | $114,000 | +$9,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $155,000▲ | $143,000 | +$12,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 186 | 162 | +24 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3% | 5%▲ | +4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $51,075 | $54,321▲ | -$3,246 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $79,616▲ | $77,246 | +$2,370 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $42,804 | $47,683▲ | -$4,879 |
| Total Employment | 18,000 | 20,000 | -2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = San Francisco, CA minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $7,000 more (median: $95,000 vs $88,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 186 vs 162), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($51,075 vs $54,321 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% 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.