Data Scientist · Salary Comparison · 2026
Data Scientist Salary: Denver, CO vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Data Scientists 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
$128,000 vs $158,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$100,000 vs $84,492
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$88,334 vs $72,723
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $128,000 | $158,000▲ | -$30,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $97,000 | $120,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $166,000 | $205,000▲ | -$39,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $208,000 | $258,000▲ | -$50,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 187 | -59 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $100,000▲ | $84,492 | +$15,508 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $113,068 | $135,992▲ | -$22,924 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $88,334▲ | $72,723 | +$15,611 |
| Total Employment | 9,000 | 24,000 | -15,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $30,000 more (median: $128,000 vs $158,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 187), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($100,000 vs $84,492 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 6.85%).
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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.