Marketing Manager · Salary Comparison · 2026
Marketing Manager Salary: Denver, CO vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Marketing Managers in Denver, CO and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$112,000 vs $138,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$87,500 vs $85,185
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$77,293 vs $74,775
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $112,000 | $138,000▲ | -$26,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $83,000 | $102,000▲ | -$19,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $148,000 | $182,000▲ | -$34,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $184,000 | $227,000▲ | -$43,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 162 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 5% | -0.5999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $87,500▲ | $85,185 | +$2,315 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $98,935 | $121,136▲ | -$22,201 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $77,293▲ | $74,775 | +$2,518 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 8,000 | -2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $26,000 more (median: $112,000 vs $138,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 162), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($87,500 vs $85,185 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 5%).
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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.