Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Oklahoma City, OK vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians in Oklahoma City, OK and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$198,000 vs $260,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Oklahoma City, OK
$230,233 vs $139,785
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Oklahoma City, OK
$202,630 vs $117,149
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $198,000 | $260,000▲ | -$62,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $149,000 | $195,000▲ | -$46,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $260,000 | $340,000▲ | -$80,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $323,000 | $420,000▲ | -$97,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 86 | 186 | -100 |
| State Income Tax | 4.75%▲ | 9.3% | -4.550000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $230,233▲ | $139,785 | +$90,448 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $174,262 | $217,898▲ | -$43,636 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $202,630▲ | $117,149 | +$85,481 |
| Total Employment | 5,000 | 8,000 | -3,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Oklahoma City, OK minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $62,000 more (median: $198,000 vs $260,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 86 vs 186), Oklahoma City, OK provides better purchasing power ($230,233 vs $139,785 equivalent). Oklahoma City, OK has the lower state tax rate (4.75% 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.