Physician Salary in New York, NY
Physicians in New York, NY earn a median of $250,000/year, ranging from $188,000 (25th percentile) to $408,000 (90th percentile). After New York state taxes (6.85%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 187), this is equivalent to $133,690 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in New York, NY
Major health systems anchor physician recruitment here - NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, and Columbia University Medical Center are among the larger employers, each running multiple specialty divisions across Manhattan and the boroughs. A two-bedroom in Murray Hill or Astoria runs around $3,500 to $4,200 monthly, which eats into your six-figure salary faster than you'd expect outside the city. The subway system lets many physicians skip the car entirely, though weekend coverage often means late-night express train rides or car service home after shifts. New York's 6.85 percent state income tax is steeper than most metros, and the cost of living consistently ranks near the nation's highest - your earnings stretch differently here than they would in secondary markets, even at the upper end of the specialty range.
1Salary Distribution in New York, NY
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does New York, NY Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY (current) | $250,000 | 187 | $133,690 |
| San Francisco, CA | $260,000 | 186 | $139,785 |
| Seattle, WA | $248,000 | 162 | $153,086 |
| Boston, MA | $252,000 | 162 | $155,556 |
| Austin, TX | $225,000 | 124 | $181,452 |
| Denver, CO | $228,000 | 128 | $178,125 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Physician salary in New York, NY?
The median Physician salary in New York, NY is $250,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $188,000 and the 90th percentile is $408,000.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a Physician?
New York, NY has a cost of living index of 187 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $250,000 Physician salary in New York, NY is equivalent to $133,690 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for New York, NY?
New York, NY has a cost of living index of 187, meaning it is 87% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in New York is approximately 6.85%.
What is the Physician salary range in New York, NY?
In New York, NY, Physicians earn between $188,000 (25th percentile) and $408,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $250,000 per year.
How many Physician jobs are there in New York, NY?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 22,000 Physician positions in the New York, NY metropolitan area.
What do Physicians earn in New York, NY?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Physicians in New York, NY earn a median annual wage of $250,000. The middle 50% earn between $188,000 and $328,000. The top 10% earn more than $408,000. There are approximately 22,000 Physicians employed in the New York, NY metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 1.5%.
Is New York, NY a good place for a Physician?
New York, NY has a cost of living index of 187 (US average = 100), making it 87% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Physician in New York, NY earning $250,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $133,690 relative to the US median. New York has a state income tax rate of approximately 6.85%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for New York, NY?
New York, NY's cost of living index is 187, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $250,000 in New York, NYhas the same purchasing power as $133,690 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare New York, NY with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Physician in New York, NY?
The headline median of $250,000 is only part of the picture. New York, NY's cost of living index is 187 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 53¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $250,000 salary effectively purchases $133,690 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In New York, NY, the median household typically spends 35–45% of gross income on housing — significantly above the 28% "affordable" threshold most lenders use. For a $250,000 salary, that translates to roughly $100,000/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. New York levies a state income tax of approximately 6.85%, which reduces take-home by roughly $17,125 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $215,177. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($260,000 median, COL 186); Seattle, WA ($248,000 median, COL 162); Boston, MA ($252,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 1.5% year-over-year growth rate for Physicians in New York, NY is a leading indicator of market health. A mature, slower-growth market — often higher-paid in absolute terms but with fewer open roles and slower lateral moves. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Physicians or the New York state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.