Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: Boston, MA vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in Boston, MA and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$88,000 vs $72,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$54,321 vs $56,250
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$47,683 vs $49,688
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $88,000▲ | $72,000 | +$16,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000▲ | $55,000 | +$12,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $114,000▲ | $93,000 | +$21,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $143,000▲ | $117,000 | +$26,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 128 | +34 |
| State Income Tax | 5% | 4.4%▲ | +0.5999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $54,321 | $56,250▲ | -$1,929 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $77,246▲ | $63,601 | +$13,645 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $47,683 | $49,688▲ | -$2,005 |
| Total Employment | 20,000 | 12,000 | +8,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus Denver, CO.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $16,000 more (median: $88,000 vs $72,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 128), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($54,321 vs $56,250 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 5%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.