Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Columbus, OH vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians in Columbus, OH and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$212,000 vs $260,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Columbus, OH
$232,967 vs $139,785
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Columbus, OH
$206,673 vs $117,149
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $212,000 | $260,000▲ | -$48,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $159,000 | $195,000▲ | -$36,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $278,000 | $340,000▲ | -$62,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $346,000 | $420,000▲ | -$74,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 91 | 186 | -95 |
| State Income Tax | 3.99%▲ | 9.3% | -5.3100000000000005% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $232,967▲ | $139,785 | +$93,182 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $188,072 | $217,898▲ | -$29,826 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $206,673▲ | $117,149 | +$89,524 |
| Total Employment | 9,000 | 8,000 | +1,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Columbus, OH minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $48,000 more (median: $212,000 vs $260,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 91 vs 186), Columbus, OH provides better purchasing power ($232,967 vs $139,785 equivalent). Columbus, OH has the lower state tax rate (3.99% vs 9.3%).
4More Physician City Comparisons
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.