Actuary · Salary Comparison · 2026
Actuary Salary: New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Actuarys in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$148,000 vs $154,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$79,144 vs $82,796
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$68,120 vs $69,388
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $148,000 | $154,000▲ | -$6,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $113,960 | $118,580▲ | -$4,620 |
| 75th Percentile | $189,440 | $197,120▲ | -$7,680 |
| 90th Percentile | $236,800 | $246,400▲ | -$9,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 186 | +1 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85%▲ | 9.3% | -2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $79,144 | $82,796▲ | -$3,652 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $127,384 | $129,062▲ | -$1,678 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $68,120 | $69,388▲ | -$1,268 |
| Total Employment | 54,400 | 41,600 | +12,800 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $6,000 more (median: $148,000 vs $154,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($79,144 vs $82,796 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.