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