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