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