Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: Denver, CO vs Austin, TX
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners in Denver, CO and Austin, TX, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Denver, CO
$120,000 vs $118,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Austin, TX
$93,750 vs $95,161
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Austin, TX
$82,813 vs $87,929
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Austin, TX | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $120,000▲ | $118,000 | +$2,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $93,000▲ | $91,000 | +$2,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $154,000▲ | $151,000 | +$3,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $186,000▲ | $183,000 | +$3,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 124 | +4 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4% | 0%▲ | +4.4% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $93,750 | $95,161▲ | -$1,411 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $106,001 | $109,032▲ | -$3,031 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $82,813 | $87,929▲ | -$5,116 |
| Total Employment | 4,000 | 5,000 | -1,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus Austin, TX.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Denver, CO pays $2,000 more (median: $120,000 vs $118,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 124), Austin, TX provides better purchasing power ($93,750 vs $95,161 equivalent). Austin, TX has no state income tax, which is a significant advantage.
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.