UX Designer · Salary Comparison · 2026
UX Designer Salary: New York, NY vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for UX Designers in New York, NY and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$126,000 vs $116,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Boston, MA
$67,380 vs $71,605
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Boston, MA
$57,994 vs $62,855
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $126,000▲ | $116,000 | +$10,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $97,020▲ | $89,320 | +$7,700 |
| 75th Percentile | $161,280▲ | $148,480 | +$12,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $201,600▲ | $185,600 | +$16,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 162 | +25 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85% | 5%▲ | +1.8499999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $67,380 | $71,605▲ | -$4,225 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $108,449▲ | $101,825 | +$6,624 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $57,994 | $62,855▲ | -$4,861 |
| Total Employment | 54,400 | 33,600 | +20,800 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $10,000 more (median: $126,000 vs $116,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 162), Boston, MA provides better purchasing power ($67,380 vs $71,605 equivalent). Boston, MA has the lower state tax rate (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.