School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Portland, OR vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Portland, OR and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$56,000 vs $67,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Portland, OR
$43,077 vs $35,829
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Portland, OR
$36,320 vs $30,838
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $56,000 | $67,000▲ | -$11,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,120 | $51,590▲ | -$8,470 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,680 | $85,760▲ | -$14,080 |
| 90th Percentile | $89,600 | $107,200▲ | -$17,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 187 | -57 |
| State Income Tax | 8.75% | 6.85%▲ | +1.9000000000000004% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $43,077▲ | $35,829 | +$7,248 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $47,216 | $57,667▲ | -$10,451 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $36,320▲ | $30,838 | +$5,482 |
| Total Employment | 50,000 | 170,000 | -120,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Portland, OR minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $11,000 more (median: $56,000 vs $67,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 130 vs 187), Portland, OR provides better purchasing power ($43,077 vs $35,829 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% 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.