Plumber · Salary Comparison · 2026
Plumber Salary: Boston, MA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Plumbers in Boston, MA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$78,000 vs $84,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$48,148 vs $44,920
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$42,264 vs $38,663
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $78,000 | $84,000▲ | -$6,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $60,060 | $64,680▲ | -$4,620 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,840 | $107,520▲ | -$7,680 |
| 90th Percentile | $124,800 | $134,400▲ | -$9,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 187 | -25 |
| State Income Tax | 5%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $48,148▲ | $44,920 | +$3,228 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $68,468 | $72,299▲ | -$3,831 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $42,264▲ | $38,663 | +$3,601 |
| Total Employment | 63,000 | 102,000 | -39,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $6,000 more (median: $78,000 vs $84,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 187), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($48,148 vs $44,920 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 6.85%).
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.