Dental Hygienist · Salary Comparison · 2026
Dental Hygienist Salary: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Dental Hygienists in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$70,000 vs $79,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$43,210 vs $42,473
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$37,930 vs $35,595
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $70,000 | $79,000▲ | -$9,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,900 | $60,830▲ | -$6,930 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,600 | $101,120▲ | -$11,520 |
| 90th Percentile | $112,000 | $126,400▲ | -$14,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 186 | -24 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $43,210▲ | $42,473 | +$737 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $61,446 | $66,207▲ | -$4,761 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $37,930▲ | $35,595 | +$2,335 |
| Total Employment | 105,000 | 130,000 | -25,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $9,000 more (median: $70,000 vs $79,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 186), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($43,210 vs $42,473 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% 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.