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