School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Washington, DC vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Washington, DC and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$61,000 vs $67,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$40,132 vs $35,829
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$34,671 vs $30,838
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $61,000 | $67,000▲ | -$6,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,970 | $51,590▲ | -$4,620 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,080 | $85,760▲ | -$7,680 |
| 90th Percentile | $97,600 | $107,200▲ | -$9,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 187 | -35 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 6.85% | -0.34999999999999964% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $40,132▲ | $35,829 | +$4,303 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $52,700 | $57,667▲ | -$4,967 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $34,671▲ | $30,838 | +$3,833 |
| Total Employment | 112,500 | 170,000 | -57,500 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $6,000 more (median: $61,000 vs $67,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 187), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($40,132 vs $35,829 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% 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.