Network Engineer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Network Engineer Salary: New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Network Engineers in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$114,000 vs $119,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$60,963 vs $63,978
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$52,471 vs $53,618
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $114,000 | $119,000▲ | -$5,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $87,780 | $91,630▲ | -$3,850 |
| 75th Percentile | $145,920 | $152,320▲ | -$6,400 |
| 90th Percentile | $182,400 | $190,400▲ | -$8,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 186 | +1 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85%▲ | 9.3% | -2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $60,963 | $63,978▲ | -$3,015 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $98,120 | $99,730▲ | -$1,610 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $52,471 | $53,618▲ | -$1,147 |
| Total Employment | 102,000 | 78,000 | +24,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $5,000 more (median: $114,000 vs $119,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($60,963 vs $63,978 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.