School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Washington, DC vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$61,000 vs $70,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$40,132 vs $37,634
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$34,671 vs $31,540
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $61,000 | $70,000▲ | -$9,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,970 | $53,900▲ | -$6,930 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,080 | $89,600▲ | -$11,520 |
| 90th Percentile | $97,600 | $112,000▲ | -$14,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 186 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 9.3% | -2.8000000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $40,132▲ | $37,634 | +$2,498 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $52,700 | $58,665▲ | -$5,965 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $34,671▲ | $31,540 | +$3,131 |
| Total Employment | 112,500 | 130,000 | -17,500 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $9,000 more (median: $61,000 vs $70,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 186), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($40,132 vs $37,634 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% 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.