Network Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Network Engineer Salary: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Network Engineers in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$105,000 vs $119,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$64,815 vs $63,978
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$56,894 vs $53,618
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $105,000 | $119,000▲ | -$14,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,850 | $91,630▲ | -$10,780 |
| 75th Percentile | $134,400 | $152,320▲ | -$17,920 |
| 90th Percentile | $168,000 | $190,400▲ | -$22,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 186 | -24 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $64,815▲ | $63,978 | +$837 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $92,169 | $99,730▲ | -$7,561 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $56,894▲ | $53,618 | +$3,276 |
| Total Employment | 63,000 | 78,000 | -15,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $14,000 more (median: $105,000 vs $119,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 186), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($64,815 vs $63,978 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% 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.