School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Portland, OR vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Portland, OR and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$56,000 vs $62,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$43,077 vs $38,272
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$36,320 vs $33,595
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $56,000 | $62,000▲ | -$6,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,120 | $47,740▲ | -$4,620 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,680 | $79,360▲ | -$7,680 |
| 90th Percentile | $89,600 | $99,200▲ | -$9,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 162 | -32 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75% | 5%▲ | +3.75% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $43,077▲ | $38,272 | +$4,805 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $47,216 | $54,424▲ | -$7,208 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $36,320▲ | $33,595 | +$2,725 |
| Total Employment | 50,000 | 105,000 | -55,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $6,000 more (median: $56,000 vs $62,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 162), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($43,077 vs $38,272 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.