Elementary School Teacher · Salary Comparison · 2026
Elementary School Teacher Salary: Denver, CO vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Elementary School Teachers 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
$50,000 vs $62,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$39,063 vs $33,155
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$34,505 vs $28,537
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $50,000 | $62,000▲ | -$12,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,500 | $47,740▲ | -$9,240 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $79,360▲ | -$15,360 |
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $99,200▲ | -$19,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 187 | -59 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $39,063▲ | $33,155 | +$5,908 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $44,167 | $53,364▲ | -$9,197 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $34,505▲ | $28,537 | +$5,968 |
| Total Employment | 70,000 | 170,000 | -100,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $12,000 more (median: $50,000 vs $62,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 187), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($39,063 vs $33,155 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.