School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Salt Lake City, UT vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Salt Lake City, UT and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$48,000 vs $67,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Salt Lake City, UT
$42,857 vs $35,829
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Salt Lake City, UT
$37,759 vs $30,838
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $48,000 | $67,000▲ | -$19,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,960 | $51,590▲ | -$14,630 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,440 | $85,760▲ | -$24,320 |
| 90th Percentile | $76,800 | $107,200▲ | -$30,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 112 | 187 | -75 |
| State Income Tax | 4.65%▲ | 6.85% | -2.1999999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $42,857▲ | $35,829 | +$7,028 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $42,290 | $57,667▲ | -$15,377 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $37,759▲ | $30,838 | +$6,921 |
| Total Employment | 45,000 | 170,000 | -125,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Salt Lake City, UT minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $19,000 more (median: $48,000 vs $67,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 112 vs 187), Salt Lake City, UT provides better purchasing power ($42,857 vs $35,829 equivalent). Salt Lake City, UT has the lower state tax rate (4.65% 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.