School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Raleigh, NC vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Raleigh, NC and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$50,000 vs $67,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Raleigh, NC
$48,544 vs $35,829
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Raleigh, NC
$42,836 vs $30,838
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $50,000 | $67,000▲ | -$17,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,500 | $51,590▲ | -$13,090 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $85,760▲ | -$21,760 |
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $107,200▲ | -$27,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 103 | 187 | -84 |
| State Income Tax | 4.5%▲ | 6.85% | -2.3499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $48,544▲ | $35,829 | +$12,715 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $44,121 | $57,667▲ | -$13,546 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $42,836▲ | $30,838 | +$11,998 |
| Total Employment | 55,000 | 170,000 | -115,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Raleigh, NC minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $17,000 more (median: $50,000 vs $67,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 103 vs 187), Raleigh, NC provides better purchasing power ($48,544 vs $35,829 equivalent). Raleigh, NC has the lower state tax rate (4.5% 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.