Salary comparison
Lawyers: New York vs San Francisco
San Francisco, CA pays about 1.7% more for lawyers on paper — $212,500 vs $208,880. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, San Francisco comes out ahead by $3,620 a year in real buying power.
New York, NY
$208,880
$131,240
$324,310
$100.42
100
$208,880/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
San Francisco, CA
$212,500
$137,380
$320,510
$102.17
100
$212,500/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $3,620 a year (1.7%) in favor of San Francisco. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
New York runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; San Francisco sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, San Francisco is the better deal by $3,620 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from New York to San Francisco for this role, the raise needs to beat 1.7% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do lawyers earn more, New York or San Francisco?
San Francisco pays $212,500 on median — about 1.7% more than New York ($208,880). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
San Francisco. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, San Francisco gives you roughly$212,500 of real buying power versus $208,880 in the other city.