School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$67,000 vs $70,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$35,829 vs $37,634
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$30,838 vs $31,540
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $67,000 | $70,000▲ | -$3,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,590 | $53,900▲ | -$2,310 |
| 75th Percentile | $85,760 | $89,600▲ | -$3,840 |
| 90th Percentile | $107,200 | $112,000▲ | -$4,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 186 | +1 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85%▲ | 9.3% | -2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $35,829 | $37,634▲ | -$1,805 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $57,667 | $58,665▲ | -$998 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $30,838 | $31,540▲ | -$702 |
| Total Employment | 170,000 | 130,000 | +40,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $3,000 more (median: $67,000 vs $70,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($35,829 vs $37,634 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% vs 9.3%).
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.