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