Plumber · Salary Comparison · 2026
Plumber Salary: Portland, OR vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Plumbers in Portland, OR and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$70,000 vs $78,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$53,846 vs $48,148
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$45,401 vs $42,264
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $70,000 | $78,000▲ | -$8,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,900 | $60,060▲ | -$6,160 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,600 | $99,840▲ | -$10,240 |
| 90th Percentile | $112,000 | $124,800▲ | -$12,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 162 | -32 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75% | 5%▲ | +3.75% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $53,846▲ | $48,148 | +$5,698 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $59,021 | $68,468▲ | -$9,447 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $45,401▲ | $42,264 | +$3,137 |
| Total Employment | 30,000 | 63,000 | -33,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $8,000 more (median: $70,000 vs $78,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 162), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($53,846 vs $48,148 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 8.75%).
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.