Plumber · Salary Comparison · 2026
Plumber Salary: Denver, CO vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Plumbers 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
$68,000 vs $88,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$53,125 vs $47,312
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$46,927 vs $39,651
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $68,000 | $88,000▲ | -$20,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,360 | $67,760▲ | -$15,400 |
| 75th Percentile | $87,040 | $112,640▲ | -$25,600 |
| 90th Percentile | $108,800 | $140,800▲ | -$32,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 186 | -58 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 9.3% | -4.9% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $53,125▲ | $47,312 | +$5,813 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $60,067 | $73,750▲ | -$13,683 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $46,927▲ | $39,651 | +$7,276 |
| Total Employment | 42,000 | 78,000 | -36,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $20,000 more (median: $68,000 vs $88,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 186), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($53,125 vs $47,312 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 9.3%).
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.