Lawyer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Lawyer Salary: Washington, DC vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Lawyers in Washington, DC and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$188,000 vs $210,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$123,684 vs $112,299
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$106,856 vs $96,657
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $188,000 | $210,000▲ | -$22,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $133,000 | $148,000▲ | -$15,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $256,000 | $285,000▲ | -$29,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $338,000 | $378,000▲ | -$40,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 187 | -35 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 6.85% | -0.34999999999999964% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $123,684▲ | $112,299 | +$11,385 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $162,421 | $180,748▲ | -$18,327 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $106,856▲ | $96,657 | +$10,199 |
| Total Employment | 15,000 | 28,000 | -13,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $22,000 more (median: $188,000 vs $210,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 187), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($123,684 vs $112,299 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% 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.