Software Developer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Software Developer Salary: New York, NY vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Software Developers in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$168,000 vs $175,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$89,840 vs $94,086
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$77,326 vs $78,851
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $168,000 | $175,000▲ | -$7,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $128,000 | $135,000▲ | -$7,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $215,000 | $225,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $265,000 | $280,000▲ | -$15,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 186 | +1 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85%▲ | 9.3% | -2.450000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $89,840 | $94,086▲ | -$4,246 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $144,599 | $146,662▲ | -$2,063 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $77,326 | $78,851▲ | -$1,525 |
| Total Employment | 68,000 | 52,000 | +16,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $7,000 more (median: $168,000 vs $175,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($89,840 vs $94,086 equivalent). New York, NY has the lower state tax rate (6.85% vs 9.3%).
4More Software Developer City Comparisons
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.