Network Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Network Engineer Salary: Chicago, IL vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Network Engineers in Chicago, IL and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$87,000 vs $114,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$81,308 vs $60,963
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$71,410 vs $52,471
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $87,000 | $114,000▲ | -$27,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,990 | $87,780▲ | -$20,790 |
| 75th Percentile | $111,360 | $145,920▲ | -$34,560 |
| 90th Percentile | $139,200 | $182,400▲ | -$43,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 187 | -80 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8999999999999995% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $81,308▲ | $60,963 | +$20,345 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $76,409 | $98,120▲ | -$21,711 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $71,410▲ | $52,471 | +$18,939 |
| Total Employment | 52,500 | 102,000 | -49,500 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $27,000 more (median: $87,000 vs $114,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 187), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($81,308 vs $60,963 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% 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.