Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Boston, MA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians in Boston, MA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$252,000 vs $250,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$155,556 vs $133,690
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$136,547 vs $115,068
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $252,000▲ | $250,000 | +$2,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $190,000▲ | $188,000 | +$2,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $330,000▲ | $328,000 | +$2,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $410,000▲ | $408,000 | +$2,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 187 | -25 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $155,556▲ | $133,690 | +$21,866 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $221,206▲ | $215,177 | +$6,029 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $136,547▲ | $115,068 | +$21,479 |
| Total Employment | 14,000 | 22,000 | -8,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $2,000 more (median: $252,000 vs $250,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 187), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($155,556 vs $133,690 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 6.85%).
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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.