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