Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: Houston, TX vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners in Houston, TX and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$110,000 vs $155,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Houston, TX
$102,804 vs $83,333
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Houston, TX
$94,991 vs $69,839
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $110,000 | $155,000▲ | -$45,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,000 | $120,000▲ | -$35,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $141,000 | $198,000▲ | -$57,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $171,000 | $240,000▲ | -$69,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 186 | -79 |
| State Income Tax | 0%▲ | 9.3% | -9.3% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $102,804▲ | $83,333 | +$19,471 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $101,640 | $129,901▲ | -$28,261 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $94,991▲ | $69,839 | +$25,152 |
| Total Employment | 10,000 | 5,000 | +5,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Houston, TX minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $45,000 more (median: $110,000 vs $155,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 186), Houston, TX provides better purchasing power ($102,804 vs $83,333 equivalent). Houston, TX has no state income tax, which is a significant advantage.
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.