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