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