Operations Manager · Salary Comparison · 2026
Operations Manager Salary: Boston, MA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Operations Managers in Boston, MA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$121,000 vs $131,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$74,691 vs $70,053
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$65,564 vs $60,295
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $121,000 | $131,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $93,170 | $100,870▲ | -$7,700 |
| 75th Percentile | $154,880 | $167,680▲ | -$12,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $193,600 | $209,600▲ | -$16,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 187 | -25 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $74,691▲ | $70,053 | +$4,638 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $106,214 | $112,752▲ | -$6,538 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $65,564▲ | $60,295 | +$5,269 |
| Total Employment | 33,600 | 54,400 | -20,800 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $10,000 more (median: $121,000 vs $131,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 187), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($74,691 vs $70,053 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% 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.