Elementary School Teacher · Salary Comparison · 2026
Elementary School Teacher Salary: New York, NY vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Elementary School Teachers in New York, NY and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$62,000 vs $50,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$33,155 vs $39,063
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$28,537 vs $34,505
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $62,000▲ | $50,000 | +$12,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,740▲ | $38,500 | +$9,240 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,360▲ | $64,000 | +$15,360 |
| 90th Percentile | $99,200▲ | $80,000 | +$19,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 128 | +59 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85% | 4.4%▲ | +2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $33,155 | $39,063▲ | -$5,908 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $53,364▲ | $44,167 | +$9,197 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $28,537 | $34,505▲ | -$5,968 |
| Total Employment | 170,000 | 70,000 | +100,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus Denver, CO.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $12,000 more (median: $62,000 vs $50,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 128), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($33,155 vs $39,063 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.