Pay
Pay and cost of living
What first-years earn at each firm, what that salary is worth where you’d live, and how two offers compare once bonus, tax and rent are in.
First-year base across 98 firms
See every firm’s figure- $450,000+1 firm
- $255,000+7 firms
- $240,000+1 firm
- $235,000+6 firms
- $225,000+66 firms
- $215,000+8 firms
- $210,000+3 firms
- $205,000+1 firm
- $200,000+3 firms
- $180,000+1 firm
- $166,000+1 firm
From each firm’s own announcement or the market scale it follows, as labelled on its profile. Firms that don’t publish a figure are left out.
City move calculator
See what salary keeps the same buying power after a market change, then compare the tax hit and take-home pay in both cities.
Equivalent purchasing power
$199,144
$245,000 in New York needs to be $199,144 in Washington DC to maintain the same standard of living. Washington DC is 19% cheaper overall.
Cost index uses 100 as the U.S. average. New York is indexed at 187; Washington DC is indexed at 152. The tool answers the practical question: what percent more or less cash would make these markets feel financially equivalent?
Relocation read
Washington DC improves both buying power and take-home.
The market is cheaper than New York, and estimated take-home is up by $437. On this math, the move gives you more room without needing a higher headline salary.
Market cost index
New York
187
100 means average. New York is 87% above the U.S. metro average; housing, transportation, food, healthcare, and utilities are folded into the index.
Market cost index
Washington DC
152
100 means average. Washington DC is 52% above the U.S. metro average; housing, transportation, food, healthcare, and utilities are folded into the index.
Tax stack in New York
$245,000 grossbecomes $155,574 take-home (63.5%)
Federal income tax (progressive)
$49,704 (20.3%)
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)
$15,397 (6.3%)
State income tax
$14,954 (6.1%)
City / local income tax
$9,371 (3.8%)
Each bar is scaled to your gross. Hover any segment for bracket detail. 2026 single filer, before deductions beyond the standard.
Take-home
$155,574 (63.5%)
Tax stack in Washington DC
$245,000 grossbecomes $156,011 take-home (63.7%)
Federal income tax (progressive)
$49,704 (20.3%)
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)
$15,397 (6.3%)
State income tax
$23,888 (9.8%)
Each bar is scaled to your gross. Hover any segment for bracket detail. 2026 single filer, before deductions beyond the standard.
Take-home
$156,011 (63.7%)
Take-home - quoted market
$155,574
New York · after federal + state + city tax (single filer, est.)
Take-home - moving market
$156,011
Washington DC · after federal + state + city tax (single filer, est.)
Tax burden delta
-0.8%
Washington DC taxes 0.8% less on this income
Take-home delta
+$437
Your take-home goes up 0.3% in Washington DC
Cost-of-living indices and tax estimates are cited on the methodology page. Estimates, not tax advice.