Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians in Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$252,000 vs $260,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$155,556 vs $139,785
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$136,547 vs $117,149
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $252,000 | $260,000▲ | -$8,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $190,000 | $195,000▲ | -$5,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $330,000 | $340,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $410,000 | $420,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 186 | -24 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 9.3% | -4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $155,556▲ | $139,785 | +$15,771 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $221,206▲ | $217,898 | +$3,308 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $136,547▲ | $117,149 | +$19,398 |
| Total Employment | 14,000 | 8,000 | +6,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $8,000 more (median: $252,000 vs $260,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 186), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($155,556 vs $139,785 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 9.3%).
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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.