Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners 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
$138,000 vs $155,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$85,185 vs $83,333
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$74,775 vs $69,839
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $138,000 | $155,000▲ | -$17,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,000 | $120,000▲ | -$13,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $177,000 | $198,000▲ | -$21,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $214,000 | $240,000▲ | -$26,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 186 | -24 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $85,185▲ | $83,333 | +$1,852 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $121,136 | $129,901▲ | -$8,765 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $74,775▲ | $69,839 | +$4,936 |
| Total Employment | 9,000 | 5,000 | +4,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $17,000 more (median: $138,000 vs $155,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 186), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($85,185 vs $83,333 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.