Database Administrator · Salary Comparison · 2026
Database Administrator Salary: Boston, MA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Database Administrators 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
$108,000 vs $118,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$66,667 vs $63,102
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$58,520 vs $54,312
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $108,000 | $118,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,160 | $90,860▲ | -$7,700 |
| 75th Percentile | $138,240 | $151,040▲ | -$12,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $172,800 | $188,800▲ | -$16,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 187 | -25 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $66,667▲ | $63,102 | +$3,565 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $94,802 | $101,563▲ | -$6,761 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $58,520▲ | $54,312 | +$4,208 |
| Total Employment | 33,600 | 54,400 | -20,800 |
▲ = 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: $108,000 vs $118,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 187), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($66,667 vs $63,102 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.