School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Chicago, IL vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Chicago, IL and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$51,000 vs $67,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$47,664 vs $35,829
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$41,861 vs $30,838
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $51,000 | $67,000▲ | -$16,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,270 | $51,590▲ | -$12,320 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,280 | $85,760▲ | -$20,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $81,600 | $107,200▲ | -$25,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 187 | -80 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8999999999999995% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $47,664▲ | $35,829 | +$11,835 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $44,791 | $57,667▲ | -$12,876 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $41,861▲ | $30,838 | +$11,023 |
| Total Employment | 87,500 | 170,000 | -82,500 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $16,000 more (median: $51,000 vs $67,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 187), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($47,664 vs $35,829 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% 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.