College Professor · Salary Comparison · 2026
College Professor Salary: New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for College Professors in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$92,000 vs $96,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$49,198 vs $51,613
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$42,345 vs $43,255
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $92,000 | $96,000▲ | -$4,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,840 | $73,920▲ | -$3,080 |
| 75th Percentile | $117,760 | $122,880▲ | -$5,120 |
| 90th Percentile | $147,200 | $153,600▲ | -$6,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 186 | +1 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85%▲ | 9.3% | -2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $49,198 | $51,613▲ | -$2,415 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $79,185 | $80,455▲ | -$1,270 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $42,345 | $43,255▲ | -$910 |
| Total Employment | 102,000 | 78,000 | +24,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $4,000 more (median: $92,000 vs $96,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($49,198 vs $51,613 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% 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.