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