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