College Professor · Salary Comparison · 2026
College Professor Salary: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for College Professors in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$85,000 vs $96,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$52,469 vs $51,613
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$46,057 vs $43,255
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $85,000 | $96,000▲ | -$11,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $65,450 | $73,920▲ | -$8,470 |
| 75th Percentile | $108,800 | $122,880▲ | -$14,080 |
| 90th Percentile | $136,000 | $153,600▲ | -$17,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 186 | -24 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $52,469▲ | $51,613 | +$856 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $74,613 | $80,455▲ | -$5,842 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $46,057▲ | $43,255 | +$2,802 |
| Total Employment | 63,000 | 78,000 | -15,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $11,000 more (median: $85,000 vs $96,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 186), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($52,469 vs $51,613 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% 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.