Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: Chicago, IL vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners in Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$115,000 vs $155,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$107,477 vs $83,333
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$94,393 vs $69,839
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $115,000 | $155,000▲ | -$40,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $89,000 | $120,000▲ | -$31,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $147,000 | $198,000▲ | -$51,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $178,000 | $240,000▲ | -$62,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 186 | -79 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 9.3% | -4.3500000000000005% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $107,477▲ | $83,333 | +$24,144 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $101,000 | $129,901▲ | -$28,901 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $94,393▲ | $69,839 | +$24,554 |
| Total Employment | 10,000 | 5,000 | +5,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $40,000 more (median: $115,000 vs $155,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 186), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($107,477 vs $83,333 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% 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.