School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: San Francisco, CA vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in San Francisco, CA and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$70,000 vs $62,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$37,634 vs $38,272
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$31,540 vs $33,595
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $70,000▲ | $62,000 | +$8,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,900▲ | $47,740 | +$6,160 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,600▲ | $79,360 | +$10,240 |
| 90th Percentile | $112,000▲ | $99,200 | +$12,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 186 | 162 | +24 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3% | 5%▲ | +4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $37,634 | $38,272▲ | -$638 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $58,665▲ | $54,424 | +$4,241 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $31,540 | $33,595▲ | -$2,055 |
| Total Employment | 130,000 | 105,000 | +25,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = San Francisco, CA minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $8,000 more (median: $70,000 vs $62,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 186 vs 162), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($37,634 vs $38,272 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (5% vs 9.3%).
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.