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