Salary Comparison

Frontend Developer Salary:
Boston, MA vs New York, NY

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Boston, MA
$187,864
/ year
-1%
difference
New York, NY
$190,526
/ year
Bottom line: Boston offers better purchasing power (your money goes further) even if gross salary differs. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Boston
New York
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$187,864
$190,526โœ“ higher
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$121,491
$123,212โœ“ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$290,498
$294,615โœ“ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$125,569
$127,379โœ“ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$134,189โœ“ higher
$131,397
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40ร—โœ“ lower
1.45ร—
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$121,491
$123,212โœ“ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$290,498
$294,615โœ“ higher

What if you move from Boston to New York?

Gross salary change
+$2,662
1% increase
Take-home change
+$1,810
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$2,792
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Boston, MA$187,864
P10: $121,491Median: $187,864P90: $290,498
New York, NY$190,526
P10: $123,212Median: $190,526P90: $294,615

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Frontend Developer earn more in Boston or New York?

The median Frontend Developer salary in Boston, MA is $187,864/yr compared to $190,526/yr in New York, NY. New York pays 1% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Frontend Developer salary worth more in Boston or New York after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $134,189/yr in a median-cost city, vs $131,397/yr for New York. Boston offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Frontend Developer in Boston vs New York?

After estimated taxes, a Frontend Developer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $125,569/yr, vs $127,379/yr in New York, NY. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.