Data Scientist · Salary Comparison · 2026
Data Scientist Salary: Boston, MA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Data Scientists 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
$148,000 vs $158,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$91,358 vs $84,492
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$80,194 vs $72,723
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $148,000 | $158,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $112,000 | $120,000▲ | -$8,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $192,000 | $205,000▲ | -$13,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $240,000 | $258,000▲ | -$18,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 187 | -25 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $91,358▲ | $84,492 | +$6,866 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $129,914 | $135,992▲ | -$6,078 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $80,194▲ | $72,723 | +$7,471 |
| Total Employment | 14,000 | 24,000 | -10,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $10,000 more (median: $148,000 vs $158,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 187), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($91,358 vs $84,492 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 6.85%).
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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.