Business Analyst · Salary Comparison · 2026
Business Analyst Salary: Portland, OR vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Business Analysts in Portland, OR and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$95,000 vs $105,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$73,077 vs $64,815
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$61,615 vs $56,894
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $95,000 | $105,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,150 | $80,850▲ | -$7,700 |
| 75th Percentile | $121,600 | $134,400▲ | -$12,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $152,000 | $168,000▲ | -$16,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 162 | -32 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75% | 5%▲ | +3.75% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $73,077▲ | $64,815 | +$8,262 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $80,099 | $92,169▲ | -$12,070 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $61,615▲ | $56,894 | +$4,721 |
| Total Employment | 30,000 | 63,000 | -33,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $10,000 more (median: $95,000 vs $105,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 162), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($73,077 vs $64,815 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% 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.