Medical Assistant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Medical Assistant Salary: Boston, MA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Medical Assistants 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
$47,000 vs $50,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$29,012 vs $26,738
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$25,467 vs $23,013
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $47,000 | $50,000▲ | -$3,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,190 | $38,500▲ | -$2,310 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,160 | $64,000▲ | -$3,840 |
| 90th Percentile | $75,200 | $80,000▲ | -$4,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 187 | -25 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $29,012▲ | $26,738 | +$2,274 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $41,257 | $43,035▲ | -$1,778 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $25,467▲ | $23,013 | +$2,454 |
| Total Employment | 105,000 | 170,000 | -65,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $3,000 more (median: $47,000 vs $50,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 187), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($29,012 vs $26,738 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.