Machine Learning Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Machine Learning Engineer Salary: Boston, MA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Machine Learning Engineers in Boston, MA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$150,000 vs $163,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$92,593 vs $87,166
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$81,278 vs $75,024
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $150,000 | $163,000▲ | -$13,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $115,500 | $125,510▲ | -$10,010 |
| 75th Percentile | $192,000 | $208,640▲ | -$16,640 |
| 90th Percentile | $240,000 | $260,800▲ | -$20,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 187 | -25 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $92,593▲ | $87,166 | +$5,427 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $131,670 | $140,295▲ | -$8,625 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $81,278▲ | $75,024 | +$6,254 |
| Total Employment | 33,600 | 54,400 | -20,800 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $13,000 more (median: $150,000 vs $163,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 187), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($92,593 vs $87,166 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 6.85%).
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.