Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Denver, CO vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians in Denver, CO and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$228,000 vs $252,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$178,125 vs $155,556
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$157,345 vs $136,547
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $228,000 | $252,000▲ | -$24,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $172,000 | $190,000▲ | -$18,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $298,000 | $330,000▲ | -$32,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $372,000 | $410,000▲ | -$38,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 162 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 5% | -0.5999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $178,125▲ | $155,556 | +$22,569 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $201,402 | $221,206▲ | -$19,804 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $157,345▲ | $136,547 | +$20,798 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 14,000 | -8,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $24,000 more (median: $228,000 vs $252,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 162), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($178,125 vs $155,556 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 5%).
4More Physician City Comparisons
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.