Medical Assistant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Medical Assistant Salary: Portland, OR vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Medical Assistants in Portland, OR and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$42,000 vs $50,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$32,308 vs $26,738
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$27,240 vs $23,013
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $42,000 | $50,000▲ | -$8,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,340 | $38,500▲ | -$6,160 |
| 75th Percentile | $53,760 | $64,000▲ | -$10,240 |
| 90th Percentile | $67,200 | $80,000▲ | -$12,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 187 | -57 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75% | 6.85%▲ | +1.9000000000000004% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $32,308▲ | $26,738 | +$5,570 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $35,412 | $43,035▲ | -$7,623 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $27,240▲ | $23,013 | +$4,227 |
| Total Employment | 50,000 | 170,000 | -120,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $8,000 more (median: $42,000 vs $50,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 187), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($32,308 vs $26,738 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% vs 8.75%).
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.