Network Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Network Engineer Salary: New York, NY vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Network Engineers in New York, NY and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$114,000 vs $105,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$60,963 vs $64,815
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$52,471 vs $56,894
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $114,000▲ | $105,000 | +$9,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $87,780▲ | $80,850 | +$6,930 |
| 75th Percentile | $145,920▲ | $134,400 | +$11,520 |
| 90th Percentile | $182,400▲ | $168,000 | +$14,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 162 | +25 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85% | 5%▲ | +1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $60,963 | $64,815▲ | -$3,852 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $98,120▲ | $92,169 | +$5,951 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $52,471 | $56,894▲ | -$4,423 |
| Total Employment | 102,000 | 63,000 | +39,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $9,000 more (median: $114,000 vs $105,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 162), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($60,963 vs $64,815 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (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.