Lawyer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Lawyer Salary: Washington, DC vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Lawyers in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$188,000 vs $195,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$123,684 vs $104,839
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$106,856 vs $87,862
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $188,000 | $195,000▲ | -$7,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $133,000 | $138,000▲ | -$5,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $256,000 | $265,000▲ | -$9,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $338,000 | $350,000▲ | -$12,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 186 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 9.3% | -2.8000000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $123,684▲ | $104,839 | +$18,845 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $162,421 | $163,423▲ | -$1,002 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $106,856▲ | $87,862 | +$18,994 |
| Total Employment | 15,000 | 6,000 | +9,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $7,000 more (median: $188,000 vs $195,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 186), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($123,684 vs $104,839 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% 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.