Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: Boston, MA vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners in Boston, MA and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$138,000 vs $120,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$85,185 vs $93,750
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$74,775 vs $82,813
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $138,000▲ | $120,000 | +$18,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $107,000▲ | $93,000 | +$14,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $177,000▲ | $154,000 | +$23,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $214,000▲ | $186,000 | +$28,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 128 | +34 |
| State Income Tax | 5% | 4.4%▲ | +0.5999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $85,185 | $93,750▲ | -$8,565 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $121,136▲ | $106,001 | +$15,135 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $74,775 | $82,813▲ | -$8,038 |
| Total Employment | 9,000 | 4,000 | +5,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus Denver, CO.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $18,000 more (median: $138,000 vs $120,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 128), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($85,185 vs $93,750 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 5%).
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.