Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: Chicago, IL vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners in Chicago, IL and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$115,000 vs $135,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$107,477 vs $72,193
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$94,393 vs $62,136
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $115,000 | $135,000▲ | -$20,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $89,000 | $104,000▲ | -$15,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $147,000 | $173,000▲ | -$26,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $178,000 | $210,000▲ | -$32,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 187 | -80 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8999999999999995% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $107,477▲ | $72,193 | +$35,284 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $101,000 | $116,195▲ | -$15,195 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $94,393▲ | $62,136 | +$32,257 |
| Total Employment | 10,000 | 14,000 | -4,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $20,000 more (median: $115,000 vs $135,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 187), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($107,477 vs $72,193 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% 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.