College Professor · Salary Comparison · 2026
College Professor Salary: Chicago, IL vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for College Professors in Chicago, IL and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$70,000 vs $92,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$65,421 vs $49,198
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$57,456 vs $42,345
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $70,000 | $92,000▲ | -$22,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,900 | $70,840▲ | -$16,940 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,600 | $117,760▲ | -$28,160 |
| 90th Percentile | $112,000 | $147,200▲ | -$35,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 187 | -80 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8999999999999995% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $65,421▲ | $49,198 | +$16,223 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $61,478 | $79,185▲ | -$17,707 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $57,456▲ | $42,345 | +$15,111 |
| Total Employment | 52,500 | 102,000 | -49,500 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $22,000 more (median: $70,000 vs $92,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 187), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($65,421 vs $49,198 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% 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.