Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: Denver, CO vs Seattle, WA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners in Denver, CO and Seattle, WA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Seattle, WA
$120,000 vs $145,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$93,750 vs $89,506
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$82,813 vs $82,704
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Seattle, WA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $120,000 | $145,000▲ | -$25,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $93,000 | $112,000▲ | -$19,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $154,000 | $186,000▲ | -$32,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $186,000 | $225,000▲ | -$39,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 162 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4% | 0%▲ | +4.4% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $93,750▲ | $89,506 | +$4,244 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $106,001 | $133,980▲ | -$27,979 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $82,813▲ | $82,704 | +$109 |
| Total Employment | 4,000 | 7,000 | -3,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus Seattle, WA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Seattle, WA pays $25,000 more (median: $120,000 vs $145,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 162), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($93,750 vs $89,506 equivalent). Seattle, WA 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.