School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Richmond, VA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Richmond, VA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$46,000 vs $67,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Richmond, VA
$45,545 vs $35,829
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Richmond, VA
$39,663 vs $30,838
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $46,000 | $67,000▲ | -$21,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,420 | $51,590▲ | -$16,170 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,880 | $85,760▲ | -$26,880 |
| 90th Percentile | $73,600 | $107,200▲ | -$33,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 101 | 187 | -86 |
| State Income Tax | 5.75%▲ | 6.85% | -1.0999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $45,545▲ | $35,829 | +$9,716 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $40,060 | $57,667▲ | -$17,607 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $39,663▲ | $30,838 | +$8,825 |
| Total Employment | 35,000 | 170,000 | -135,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Richmond, VA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $21,000 more (median: $46,000 vs $67,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 101 vs 187), Richmond, VA provides better purchasing power ($45,545 vs $35,829 equivalent). Richmond, VA has the lower state tax rate (5.75% 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.