Lawyer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Lawyer Salary: Salt Lake City, UT vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Lawyers in Salt Lake City, UT and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$115,000 vs $210,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ New York, NY
$102,679 vs $112,299
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ New York, NY
$90,463 vs $96,657
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $115,000 | $210,000▲ | -$95,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,000 | $148,000▲ | -$67,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $156,000 | $285,000▲ | -$129,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $207,000 | $378,000▲ | -$171,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 112 | 187 | -75 |
| State Income Tax | 4.65%▲ | 6.85% | -2.1999999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $102,679 | $112,299▲ | -$9,620 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $101,319 | $180,748▲ | -$79,429 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $90,463 | $96,657▲ | -$6,194 |
| Total Employment | 3,000 | 28,000 | -25,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Salt Lake City, UT minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $95,000 more (median: $115,000 vs $210,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 112 vs 187), New York, NY provides better purchasing power ($102,679 vs $112,299 equivalent). Salt Lake City, UT has the lower state tax rate (4.65% 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.