Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Detroit, MI vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians in Detroit, MI and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$205,000 vs $250,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Detroit, MI
$230,337 vs $133,690
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Detroit, MI
$203,787 vs $115,068
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $205,000 | $250,000▲ | -$45,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $154,000 | $188,000▲ | -$34,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $268,000 | $328,000▲ | -$60,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $334,000 | $408,000▲ | -$74,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 89 | 187 | -98 |
| State Income Tax | 4.25%▲ | 6.85% | -2.5999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $230,337▲ | $133,690 | +$96,647 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $181,370 | $215,177▲ | -$33,807 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $203,787▲ | $115,068 | +$88,719 |
| Total Employment | 8,000 | 22,000 | -14,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Detroit, MI minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $45,000 more (median: $205,000 vs $250,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 89 vs 187), Detroit, MI provides better purchasing power ($230,337 vs $133,690 equivalent). Detroit, MI has the lower state tax rate (4.25% 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.