Tax Manager · Salary Comparison · 2026
Tax Manager Salary: San Francisco, CA vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Tax Managers 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
$140,000 vs $124,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$75,269 vs $76,543
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$63,081 vs $67,190
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $140,000▲ | $124,000 | +$16,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,800▲ | $95,480 | +$12,320 |
| 75th Percentile | $179,200▲ | $158,720 | +$20,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $224,000▲ | $198,400 | +$25,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 186 | 162 | +24 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3% | 5%▲ | +4.300000000000001% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $75,269 | $76,543▲ | -$1,274 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $117,330▲ | $108,847 | +$8,483 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $63,081 | $67,190▲ | -$4,109 |
| Total Employment | 41,600 | 33,600 | +8,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = San Francisco, CA minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $16,000 more (median: $140,000 vs $124,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 186 vs 162), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($75,269 vs $76,543 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.