Pharmacist · Salary Comparison · 2026
Pharmacist Salary: New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Pharmacists in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$121,000 vs $126,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$64,706 vs $67,742
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$55,693 vs $56,773
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $121,000 | $126,000▲ | -$5,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $93,170 | $97,020▲ | -$3,850 |
| 75th Percentile | $154,880 | $161,280▲ | -$6,400 |
| 90th Percentile | $193,600 | $201,600▲ | -$8,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 186 | +1 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85%▲ | 9.3% | -2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $64,706 | $67,742▲ | -$3,036 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $104,145 | $105,597▲ | -$1,452 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $55,693 | $56,773▲ | -$1,080 |
| Total Employment | 54,400 | 41,600 | +12,800 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $5,000 more (median: $121,000 vs $126,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($64,706 vs $67,742 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% 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.