School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Columbus, OH vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Columbus, OH and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$45,000 vs $67,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Columbus, OH
$49,451 vs $35,829
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Columbus, OH
$43,869 vs $30,838
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $45,000 | $67,000▲ | -$22,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,650 | $51,590▲ | -$16,940 |
| 75th Percentile | $57,600 | $85,760▲ | -$28,160 |
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $107,200▲ | -$35,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 91 | 187 | -96 |
| State Income Tax | 3.99%▲ | 6.85% | -2.8599999999999994% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $49,451▲ | $35,829 | +$13,622 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $39,921 | $57,667▲ | -$17,746 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $43,869▲ | $30,838 | +$13,031 |
| Total Employment | 40,000 | 170,000 | -130,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Columbus, OH minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $22,000 more (median: $45,000 vs $67,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 91 vs 187), Columbus, OH provides better purchasing power ($49,451 vs $35,829 equivalent). Columbus, OH has the lower state tax rate (3.99% 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.