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