Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Portland, OR vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians in Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$230,000 vs $260,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$176,923 vs $139,785
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$149,173 vs $117,149
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $230,000 | $260,000▲ | -$30,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $173,000 | $195,000▲ | -$22,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $302,000 | $340,000▲ | -$38,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $376,000 | $420,000▲ | -$44,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 186 | -56 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75%▲ | 9.3% | -0.5500000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $176,923▲ | $139,785 | +$37,138 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $193,925 | $217,898▲ | -$23,973 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $149,173▲ | $117,149 | +$32,024 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 8,000 | -2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $30,000 more (median: $230,000 vs $260,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 186), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($176,923 vs $139,785 equivalent). Portland, OR has the lower state tax rate (8.75% 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.