Actuary · Salary Comparison · 2026
Actuary Salary: Denver, CO vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Actuarys in Denver, CO and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$119,000 vs $154,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$92,969 vs $82,796
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$82,123 vs $69,388
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $119,000 | $154,000▲ | -$35,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $91,630 | $118,580▲ | -$26,950 |
| 75th Percentile | $152,320 | $197,120▲ | -$44,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $190,400 | $246,400▲ | -$56,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 186 | -58 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 9.3% | -4.9% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $92,969▲ | $82,796 | +$10,173 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $105,118 | $129,062▲ | -$23,944 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $82,123▲ | $69,388 | +$12,735 |
| Total Employment | 22,400 | 41,600 | -19,200 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $35,000 more (median: $119,000 vs $154,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 186), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($92,969 vs $82,796 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 9.3%).
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.