Network Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Network Engineer Salary: Los Angeles, CA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Network Engineers in Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$102,000 vs $114,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ New York, NY
$58,960 vs $60,963
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ New York, NY
$49,412 vs $52,471
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $102,000 | $114,000▲ | -$12,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,540 | $87,780▲ | -$9,240 |
| 75th Percentile | $130,560 | $145,920▲ | -$15,360 |
| 90th Percentile | $163,200 | $182,400▲ | -$19,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 173 | 187 | -14 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3% | 6.85%▲ | +2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $58,960 | $60,963▲ | -$2,003 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $85,483 | $98,120▲ | -$12,637 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $49,412 | $52,471▲ | -$3,059 |
| Total Employment | 72,000 | 102,000 | -30,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Los Angeles, CA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $12,000 more (median: $102,000 vs $114,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 173 vs 187), New York, NY provides better purchasing power ($58,960 vs $60,963 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% 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.