Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Richmond, VA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians in Richmond, VA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$218,000 vs $250,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Richmond, VA
$215,842 vs $133,690
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Richmond, VA
$187,970 vs $115,068
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $218,000 | $250,000▲ | -$32,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $164,000 | $188,000▲ | -$24,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $286,000 | $328,000▲ | -$42,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $356,000 | $408,000▲ | -$52,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 187 | -86 |
| State Income Tax | 5.75%▲ | 6.85% | -1.0999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $215,842▲ | $133,690 | +$82,152 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $189,850 | $215,177▲ | -$25,327 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $187,970▲ | $115,068 | +$72,902 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 22,000 | -16,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Richmond, VA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $32,000 more (median: $218,000 vs $250,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 101 vs 187), Richmond, VA provides better purchasing power ($215,842 vs $133,690 equivalent). Richmond, VA has the lower state tax rate (5.75% 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.