Salary Comparison

Software Engineer Salary:
New York, NY vs Los Angeles, CA

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

New York, NY
$173,149
/ year
+11%
difference
Los Angeles, CA
$155,458
/ year
Bottom line: New York wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
New York
Los Angeles
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$173,149✓ higher
$155,458
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$111,975✓ higher
$100,534
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$267,744✓ higher
$240,388
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$115,563✓ higher
$104,538
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$119,413✓ higher
$112,651
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.45×
1.38×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$111,975✓ higher
$100,534
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$267,744✓ higher
$240,388

What if you move from New York to Los Angeles?

Gross salary change
$17,691
11% decrease
Take-home change
$11,025
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$6,762
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 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

New York, NY$173,149
P10: $111,975Median: $173,149P90: $267,744
Los Angeles, CA$155,458
P10: $100,534Median: $155,458P90: $240,388

More Software Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Software Engineer earn more in New York or Los Angeles?

The median Software Engineer salary in New York, NY is $173,149/yr compared to $155,458/yr in Los Angeles, CA. New York pays 11% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Software Engineer salary worth more in New York or Los Angeles after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your New York salary has the purchasing power of $119,413/yr in a median-cost city, vs $112,651/yr for Los Angeles. New York offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Software Engineer in New York vs Los Angeles?

After estimated taxes, a Software Engineer in New York, NY takes home approximately $115,563/yr, vs $104,538/yr in Los Angeles, CA. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.