Actuary · Salary Comparison · 2026
Actuary Salary: Portland, OR vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Actuarys in Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$123,000 vs $154,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$94,615 vs $82,796
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$79,775 vs $69,388
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $123,000 | $154,000▲ | -$31,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $94,710 | $118,580▲ | -$23,870 |
| 75th Percentile | $157,440 | $197,120▲ | -$39,680 |
| 90th Percentile | $196,800 | $246,400▲ | -$49,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 186 | -56 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75%▲ | 9.3% | -0.5500000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $94,615▲ | $82,796 | +$11,819 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $103,707 | $129,062▲ | -$25,355 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $79,775▲ | $69,388 | +$10,387 |
| Total Employment | 16,000 | 41,600 | -25,600 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $31,000 more (median: $123,000 vs $154,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 186), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($94,615 vs $82,796 equivalent). Portland, OR has the lower state tax rate (8.75% 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.