Actuary · Salary Comparison · 2026
Actuary Salary: Portland, OR vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Actuarys in Portland, OR and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$123,000 vs $148,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$94,615 vs $79,144
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$79,775 vs $68,120
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $123,000 | $148,000▲ | -$25,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $94,710 | $113,960▲ | -$19,250 |
| 75th Percentile | $157,440 | $189,440▲ | -$32,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $196,800 | $236,800▲ | -$40,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 187 | -57 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75% | 6.85%▲ | +1.9000000000000004% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $94,615▲ | $79,144 | +$15,471 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $103,707 | $127,384▲ | -$23,677 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $79,775▲ | $68,120 | +$11,655 |
| Total Employment | 16,000 | 54,400 | -38,400 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $25,000 more (median: $123,000 vs $148,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 187), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($94,615 vs $79,144 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% vs 8.75%).
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.