Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$250,000 vs $260,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$133,690 vs $139,785
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$115,068 vs $117,149
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $250,000 | $260,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $188,000 | $195,000▲ | -$7,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $328,000 | $340,000▲ | -$12,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $408,000 | $420,000▲ | -$12,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 186 | +1 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85%▲ | 9.3% | -2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $133,690 | $139,785▲ | -$6,095 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $215,177 | $217,898▲ | -$2,721 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $115,068 | $117,149▲ | -$2,081 |
| Total Employment | 22,000 | 8,000 | +14,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $10,000 more (median: $250,000 vs $260,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($133,690 vs $139,785 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% 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.