Typical local-market pay: $280,000/year (Verified BLS OES May 2024 · Doximity 2025 · NALP 2025 · Levels.fyi). Lifestyle equivalent of a New York $280,000 salary: $168,560/year (COLI-scaled, not market pay). COLI rank #45 of 113.
COLI-scaled lifestyle-equivalent range for a surgeon in Houston (NYC baseline × COLI 60.2 / 100). This is not local market pay.
Highest COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalents (not local market pay):
| City | Local market | Lifestyle equivalent | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich | CHF 124,777 | CHF 277,686 | 58% |
| Geneva | CHF 124,777 | CHF 269,065 | 54% |
| New York | $280,000 | $280,000 | 61% |
| San Francisco | $280,000 | $273,280 | 62% |
| Singapore | S$200,617 | S$319,894 | 79% |
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Try Wise for Free →Local-market pay for a surgeon in Houston is approximately $280,000/year (Verified · BLS OES May 2024 · Doximity 2025 · NALP 2025 · Levels.fyi). Separately, the lifestyle equivalent of a New York $280,000 salary is $168,560 (COLI 60.2, NYC = 100). That equivalent is not what someone earns locally. COLI-scaled entry/senior lifestyle equivalents: $72,240 – $301,000.
After income tax and social contributions in United States, a surgeon in Houston takes home approximately 71% of their gross salary, or around $16,567/month ($198,800/year in USD equivalent).
Houston ranks #45 out of 113 cities on COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalent for surgeons (not local market rank). The top city on that equivalent scale is Zurich.