Actuary · Salary Comparison · 2026
Actuary Salary: Denver, CO vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Actuarys in Denver, CO and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$119,000 vs $148,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$92,969 vs $79,144
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$82,123 vs $68,120
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $119,000 | $148,000▲ | -$29,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $91,630 | $113,960▲ | -$22,330 |
| 75th Percentile | $152,320 | $189,440▲ | -$37,120 |
| 90th Percentile | $190,400 | $236,800▲ | -$46,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 187 | -59 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $92,969▲ | $79,144 | +$13,825 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $105,118 | $127,384▲ | -$22,266 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $82,123▲ | $68,120 | +$14,003 |
| Total Employment | 22,400 | 54,400 | -32,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $29,000 more (median: $119,000 vs $148,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 187), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($92,969 vs $79,144 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.