Lawyer · Salary Comparison · 2026
Lawyer Salary: Denver, CO vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Lawyers 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
$138,000 vs $210,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ New York, NY
$107,813 vs $112,299
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ New York, NY
$95,235 vs $96,657
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $138,000 | $210,000▲ | -$72,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $97,000 | $148,000▲ | -$51,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $188,000 | $285,000▲ | -$97,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $248,000 | $378,000▲ | -$130,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 187 | -59 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $107,813 | $112,299▲ | -$4,486 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $121,901 | $180,748▲ | -$58,847 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $95,235 | $96,657▲ | -$1,422 |
| Total Employment | 5,000 | 28,000 | -23,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $72,000 more (median: $138,000 vs $210,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 187), New York, NY provides better purchasing power ($107,813 vs $112,299 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.