College Professor · Salary Comparison · 2026
College Professor Salary: Denver, CO vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for College Professors 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
$74,000 vs $92,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$57,813 vs $49,198
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$51,068 vs $42,345
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $74,000 | $92,000▲ | -$18,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,980 | $70,840▲ | -$13,860 |
| 75th Percentile | $94,720 | $117,760▲ | -$23,040 |
| 90th Percentile | $118,400 | $147,200▲ | -$28,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 187 | -59 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $57,813▲ | $49,198 | +$8,615 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $65,367 | $79,185▲ | -$13,818 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $51,068▲ | $42,345 | +$8,723 |
| Total Employment | 42,000 | 102,000 | -60,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $18,000 more (median: $74,000 vs $92,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 187), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($57,813 vs $49,198 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.