Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Washington, DC vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians in Washington, DC and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$242,000 vs $250,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$159,211 vs $133,690
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$137,548 vs $115,068
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $242,000 | $250,000▲ | -$8,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $182,000 | $188,000▲ | -$6,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $317,000 | $328,000▲ | -$11,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $394,000 | $408,000▲ | -$14,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 187 | -35 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 6.85% | -0.34999999999999964% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $159,211▲ | $133,690 | +$25,521 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $209,073 | $215,177▲ | -$6,104 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $137,548▲ | $115,068 | +$22,480 |
| Total Employment | 10,000 | 22,000 | -12,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $8,000 more (median: $242,000 vs $250,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 187), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($159,211 vs $133,690 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% 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.