Accountant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Accountant Salary: New York, NY vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Accountants in New York, NY and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$98,000 vs $72,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$52,406 vs $56,250
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$45,106 vs $49,688
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $98,000▲ | $72,000 | +$26,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,000▲ | $55,000 | +$19,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $127,000▲ | $93,000 | +$34,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $160,000▲ | $117,000 | +$43,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 128 | +59 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85% | 4.4%▲ | +2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $52,406 | $56,250▲ | -$3,844 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $84,349▲ | $63,601 | +$20,748 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $45,106 | $49,688▲ | -$4,582 |
| Total Employment | 45,000 | 12,000 | +33,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus Denver, CO.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $26,000 more (median: $98,000 vs $72,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 128), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($52,406 vs $56,250 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 6.85%).
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.