Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: Chicago, IL vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners in Chicago, IL and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$115,000 vs $138,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$107,477 vs $85,185
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$94,393 vs $74,775
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $115,000 | $138,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $89,000 | $107,000▲ | -$18,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $147,000 | $177,000▲ | -$30,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $178,000 | $214,000▲ | -$36,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 162 | -55 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 5% | -0.04999999999999982% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $107,477▲ | $85,185 | +$22,292 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $101,000 | $121,136▲ | -$20,136 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $94,393▲ | $74,775 | +$19,618 |
| Total Employment | 10,000 | 9,000 | +1,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $23,000 more (median: $115,000 vs $138,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 162), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($107,477 vs $85,185 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% vs 5%).
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.