Plumber · Salary Comparison · 2026
Plumber Salary: Denver, CO vs Boston, MA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Plumbers in Denver, CO and Boston, MA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$68,000 vs $78,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$53,125 vs $48,148
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$46,927 vs $42,264
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Boston, MA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $68,000 | $78,000▲ | -$10,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,360 | $60,060▲ | -$7,700 |
| 75th Percentile | $87,040 | $99,840▲ | -$12,800 |
| 90th Percentile | $108,800 | $124,800▲ | -$16,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 162 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 5% | -0.5999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $53,125▲ | $48,148 | +$4,977 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $60,067 | $68,468▲ | -$8,401 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $46,927▲ | $42,264 | +$4,663 |
| Total Employment | 42,000 | 63,000 | -21,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus Boston, MA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $10,000 more (median: $68,000 vs $78,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 162), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($53,125 vs $48,148 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 5%).
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.