Medical Assistant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Medical Assistant Salary: Denver, CO vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Medical Assistants 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
$41,000 vs $50,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$32,031 vs $26,738
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$28,295 vs $23,013
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $41,000 | $50,000▲ | -$9,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,570 | $38,500▲ | -$6,930 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,480 | $64,000▲ | -$11,520 |
| 90th Percentile | $65,600 | $80,000▲ | -$14,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 187 | -59 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $32,031▲ | $26,738 | +$5,293 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $36,217 | $43,035▲ | -$6,818 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $28,295▲ | $23,013 | +$5,282 |
| Total Employment | 70,000 | 170,000 | -100,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $9,000 more (median: $41,000 vs $50,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 187), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($32,031 vs $26,738 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.