Medical Assistant · Salary Comparison · 2026
Medical Assistant Salary: Denver, CO vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Medical Assistants 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
$41,000 vs $53,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$32,031 vs $28,495
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$28,295 vs $23,881
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $41,000 | $53,000▲ | -$12,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,570 | $40,810▲ | -$9,240 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,480 | $67,840▲ | -$15,360 |
| 90th Percentile | $65,600 | $84,800▲ | -$19,200 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 186 | -58 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 9.3% | -4.9% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $32,031▲ | $28,495 | +$3,536 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $36,217 | $44,418▲ | -$8,201 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $28,295▲ | $23,881 | +$4,414 |
| Total Employment | 70,000 | 130,000 | -60,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $12,000 more (median: $41,000 vs $53,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 186), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($32,031 vs $28,495 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.