Project Manager · Salary Comparison · 2026
Project Manager Salary: Denver, CO vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Project Managers 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
$97,000 vs $121,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$75,781 vs $64,706
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$66,941 vs $55,693
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $97,000 | $121,000▲ | -$24,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,690 | $93,170▲ | -$18,480 |
| 75th Percentile | $124,160 | $154,880▲ | -$30,720 |
| 90th Percentile | $155,200 | $193,600▲ | -$38,400 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 187 | -59 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $75,781▲ | $64,706 | +$11,075 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $85,684 | $104,145▲ | -$18,461 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $66,941▲ | $55,693 | +$11,248 |
| Total Employment | 22,400 | 54,400 | -32,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $24,000 more (median: $97,000 vs $121,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 187), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($75,781 vs $64,706 equivalent). Denver, CO has the lower state tax rate (4.4% vs 6.85%).
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.