Physician · Salary Comparison · 2026
Physician Salary: Denver, CO vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Physicians 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
$228,000 vs $260,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$178,125 vs $139,785
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$157,345 vs $117,149
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $228,000 | $260,000▲ | -$32,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $172,000 | $195,000▲ | -$23,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $298,000 | $340,000▲ | -$42,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $372,000 | $420,000▲ | -$48,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 186 | -58 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 9.3% | -4.9% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $178,125▲ | $139,785 | +$38,340 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $201,402 | $217,898▲ | -$16,496 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $157,345▲ | $117,149 | +$40,196 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 8,000 | -2,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $32,000 more (median: $228,000 vs $260,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 186), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($178,125 vs $139,785 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 9.3%).
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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.