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