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