Lawyer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Lawyer Salary: Boston, MA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Lawyers 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
$178,000 vs $210,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ New York, NY
$109,877 vs $112,299
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ New York, NY
$96,449 vs $96,657
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $178,000 | $210,000▲ | -$32,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $126,000 | $148,000▲ | -$22,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $242,000 | $285,000▲ | -$43,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $320,000 | $378,000▲ | -$58,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 187 | -25 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $109,877 | $112,299▲ | -$2,422 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $156,248 | $180,748▲ | -$24,500 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $96,449 | $96,657▲ | -$208 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 28,000 | -20,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $32,000 more (median: $178,000 vs $210,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 187), New York, NY provides better purchasing power ($109,877 vs $112,299 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.