College Professor · Salary Comparison · 2026
College Professor Salary: Boston, MA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for College Professors in Boston, MA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$85,000 vs $92,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$52,469 vs $49,198
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$46,057 vs $42,345
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $85,000 | $92,000▲ | -$7,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $65,450 | $70,840▲ | -$5,390 |
| 75th Percentile | $108,800 | $117,760▲ | -$8,960 |
| 90th Percentile | $136,000 | $147,200▲ | -$11,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 187 | -25 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $52,469▲ | $49,198 | +$3,271 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $74,613 | $79,185▲ | -$4,572 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $46,057▲ | $42,345 | +$3,712 |
| Total Employment | 63,000 | 102,000 | -39,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $7,000 more (median: $85,000 vs $92,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 187), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($52,469 vs $49,198 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 6.85%).
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.