Medical Assistant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Medical Assistant Salary: Portland, OR vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Medical Assistants in Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$42,000 vs $53,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$32,308 vs $28,495
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$27,240 vs $23,881
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $42,000 | $53,000▲ | -$11,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,340 | $40,810▲ | -$8,470 |
| 75th Percentile | $53,760 | $67,840▲ | -$14,080 |
| 90th Percentile | $67,200 | $84,800▲ | -$17,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 186 | -56 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75%▲ | 9.3% | -0.5500000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $32,308▲ | $28,495 | +$3,813 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $35,412 | $44,418▲ | -$9,006 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $27,240▲ | $23,881 | +$3,359 |
| Total Employment | 50,000 | 130,000 | -80,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $11,000 more (median: $42,000 vs $53,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 186), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($32,308 vs $28,495 equivalent). Portland, OR has the lower state tax rate (8.75% 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.