Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Denver, CO vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians in Denver, CO and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$228,000 vs $250,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$178,125 vs $133,690
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$157,345 vs $115,068
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $228,000 | $250,000▲ | -$22,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $172,000 | $188,000▲ | -$16,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $298,000 | $328,000▲ | -$30,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $372,000 | $408,000▲ | -$36,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 187 | -59 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $178,125▲ | $133,690 | +$44,435 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $201,402 | $215,177▲ | -$13,775 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $157,345▲ | $115,068 | +$42,277 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 22,000 | -16,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $22,000 more (median: $228,000 vs $250,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 187), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($178,125 vs $133,690 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 6.85%).
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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.