Financial Advisor · Salary Comparison · 2026
Financial Advisor Salary: Denver, CO vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Financial Advisors in Denver, CO and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$97,000 vs $126,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$75,781 vs $67,742
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$66,941 vs $56,773
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $97,000 | $126,000▲ | -$29,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,690 | $97,020▲ | -$22,330 |
| 75th Percentile | $124,160 | $161,280▲ | -$37,120 |
| 90th Percentile | $155,200 | $201,600▲ | -$46,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 186 | -58 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 9.3% | -4.9% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $75,781▲ | $67,742 | +$8,039 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $85,684 | $105,597▲ | -$19,913 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $66,941▲ | $56,773 | +$10,168 |
| Total Employment | 22,400 | 41,600 | -19,200 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $29,000 more (median: $97,000 vs $126,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 186), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($75,781 vs $67,742 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 9.3%).
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.