Lawyer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Lawyer Salary: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Lawyers 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
$178,000 vs $195,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$109,877 vs $104,839
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$96,449 vs $87,862
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $178,000 | $195,000▲ | -$17,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $126,000 | $138,000▲ | -$12,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $242,000 | $265,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $320,000 | $350,000▲ | -$30,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 186 | -24 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $109,877▲ | $104,839 | +$5,038 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $156,248 | $163,423▲ | -$7,175 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $96,449▲ | $87,862 | +$8,587 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 6,000 | +2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $17,000 more (median: $178,000 vs $195,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 186), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($109,877 vs $104,839 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 9.3%).
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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.