School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: San Francisco, CA vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in San Francisco, CA and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$70,000 vs $67,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$37,634 vs $35,829
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$31,540 vs $30,838
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $70,000▲ | $67,000 | +$3,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,900▲ | $51,590 | +$2,310 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,600▲ | $85,760 | +$3,840 |
| 90th Percentile | $112,000▲ | $107,200 | +$4,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 186 | 187 | -1 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3% | 6.85%▲ | +2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $37,634▲ | $35,829 | +$1,805 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $58,665▲ | $57,667 | +$998 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $31,540▲ | $30,838 | +$702 |
| Total Employment | 130,000 | 170,000 | -40,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = San Francisco, CA minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $3,000 more (median: $70,000 vs $67,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 186 vs 187), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($37,634 vs $35,829 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% 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.