Medical Assistant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Medical Assistant Salary: Salt Lake City, UT vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Medical Assistants in Salt Lake City, UT and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$36,000 vs $50,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Salt Lake City, UT
$32,143 vs $26,738
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Salt Lake City, UT
$28,319 vs $23,013
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $36,000 | $50,000▲ | -$14,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,720 | $38,500▲ | -$10,780 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,080 | $64,000▲ | -$17,920 |
| 90th Percentile | $57,600 | $80,000▲ | -$22,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 112 | 187 | -75 |
| State Income Tax | 4.65%▲ | 6.85% | -2.1999999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $32,143▲ | $26,738 | +$5,405 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $31,717 | $43,035▲ | -$11,318 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $28,319▲ | $23,013 | +$5,306 |
| Total Employment | 45,000 | 170,000 | -125,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Salt Lake City, UT minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $14,000 more (median: $36,000 vs $50,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 112 vs 187), Salt Lake City, UT provides better purchasing power ($32,143 vs $26,738 equivalent). Salt Lake City, UT has the lower state tax rate (4.65% 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.