Machine Learning Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Machine Learning Engineer Salary: New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Machine Learning Engineers in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$163,000 vs $170,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$87,166 vs $91,398
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$75,024 vs $76,598
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $163,000 | $170,000▲ | -$7,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $125,510 | $130,900▲ | -$5,390 |
| 75th Percentile | $208,640 | $217,600▲ | -$8,960 |
| 90th Percentile | $260,800 | $272,000▲ | -$11,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 186 | +1 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85%▲ | 9.3% | -2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $87,166 | $91,398▲ | -$4,232 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $140,295 | $142,472▲ | -$2,177 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $75,024 | $76,598▲ | -$1,574 |
| Total Employment | 54,400 | 41,600 | +12,800 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $7,000 more (median: $163,000 vs $170,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($87,166 vs $91,398 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% vs 9.3%).
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.