Lawyer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Lawyer Salary: Chicago, IL vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Lawyers in Chicago, IL and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$152,000 vs $210,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$142,056 vs $112,299
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$124,763 vs $96,657
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $152,000 | $210,000▲ | -$58,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,000 | $148,000▲ | -$41,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $206,000 | $285,000▲ | -$79,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $273,000 | $378,000▲ | -$105,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 187 | -80 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8999999999999995% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $142,056▲ | $112,299 | +$29,757 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $133,496 | $180,748▲ | -$47,252 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $124,763▲ | $96,657 | +$28,106 |
| Total Employment | 12,000 | 28,000 | -16,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $58,000 more (median: $152,000 vs $210,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 187), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($142,056 vs $112,299 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% 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.