Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: Denver, CO vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners 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
$120,000 vs $155,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$93,750 vs $83,333
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$82,813 vs $69,839
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $120,000 | $155,000▲ | -$35,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $93,000 | $120,000▲ | -$27,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $154,000 | $198,000▲ | -$44,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $186,000 | $240,000▲ | -$54,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 186 | -58 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 9.3% | -4.9% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $93,750▲ | $83,333 | +$10,417 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $106,001 | $129,901▲ | -$23,900 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $82,813▲ | $69,839 | +$12,974 |
| Total Employment | 4,000 | 5,000 | -1,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $35,000 more (median: $120,000 vs $155,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 186), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($93,750 vs $83,333 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.