College Professor · Salary Comparison · 2026
College Professor Salary: Boston, MA vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for College Professors in Boston, MA and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$85,000 vs $74,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$52,469 vs $57,813
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$46,057 vs $51,068
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $85,000▲ | $74,000 | +$11,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $65,450▲ | $56,980 | +$8,470 |
| 75th Percentile | $108,800▲ | $94,720 | +$14,080 |
| 90th Percentile | $136,000▲ | $118,400 | +$17,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 128 | +34 |
| State Income Tax | 5% | 4.4%▲ | +0.5999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $52,469 | $57,813▲ | -$5,344 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $74,613▲ | $65,367 | +$9,246 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $46,057 | $51,068▲ | -$5,011 |
| Total Employment | 63,000 | 42,000 | +21,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus Denver, CO.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $11,000 more (median: $85,000 vs $74,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 128), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($52,469 vs $57,813 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.