Medical Assistant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Medical Assistant Salary: Washington, DC vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Medical Assistants in Washington, DC and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$46,000 vs $50,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$30,263 vs $26,738
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$26,145 vs $23,013
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $46,000 | $50,000▲ | -$4,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,420 | $38,500▲ | -$3,080 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,880 | $64,000▲ | -$5,120 |
| 90th Percentile | $73,600 | $80,000▲ | -$6,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 187 | -35 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 6.85% | -0.34999999999999964% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $30,263▲ | $26,738 | +$3,525 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $39,741 | $43,035▲ | -$3,294 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $26,145▲ | $23,013 | +$3,132 |
| Total Employment | 112,500 | 170,000 | -57,500 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $4,000 more (median: $46,000 vs $50,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 187), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($30,263 vs $26,738 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% 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.