Actuary · Salary Comparison · 2026
Actuary Salary: Boston, MA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Actuarys in Boston, MA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$136,000 vs $148,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$83,951 vs $79,144
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$73,692 vs $68,120
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $136,000 | $148,000▲ | -$12,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,720 | $113,960▲ | -$9,240 |
| 75th Percentile | $174,080 | $189,440▲ | -$15,360 |
| 90th Percentile | $217,600 | $236,800▲ | -$19,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 187 | -25 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $83,951▲ | $79,144 | +$4,807 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $119,381 | $127,384▲ | -$8,003 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $73,692▲ | $68,120 | +$5,572 |
| Total Employment | 33,600 | 54,400 | -20,800 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $12,000 more (median: $136,000 vs $148,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 187), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($83,951 vs $79,144 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% 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.