Salary Comparison

Systems Administrator Salary:
Boston, MA vs Miami, FL

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

Boston, MA
$115,019
/ year
+38%
difference
Miami, FL
$83,154
/ year
Bottom line: Boston wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Boston
Miami
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$115,019โœ“ higher
$83,154
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$74,382โœ“ higher
$53,775
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$177,857โœ“ higher
$128,583
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$80,133โœ“ higher
$60,903
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$82,156โœ“ higher
$69,295
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40ร—
1.20ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$74,382โœ“ higher
$53,775
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$177,857โœ“ higher
$128,583

What if you move from Boston to Miami?

Gross salary change
$31,865
38% decrease
Take-home change
$19,230
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$12,861
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$115,019
P10: $74,382Median: $115,019P90: $177,857
Miami, FL$83,154
P10: $53,775Median: $83,154P90: $128,583

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Systems Administrator earn more in Boston or Miami?

The median Systems Administrator salary in Boston, MA is $115,019/yr compared to $83,154/yr in Miami, FL. Boston pays 38% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Systems Administrator salary worth more in Boston or Miami after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $82,156/yr in a median-cost city, vs $69,295/yr for Miami. Boston offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Systems Administrator in Boston vs Miami?

After estimated taxes, a Systems Administrator in Boston, MA takes home approximately $80,133/yr, vs $60,903/yr in Miami, FL. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.