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