School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Boston, MA vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in Boston, MA and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ Boston, MA
$62,000 vs $54,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$38,272 vs $42,188
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$33,595 vs $37,266
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $62,000▲ | $54,000 | +$8,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,740▲ | $41,580 | +$6,160 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,360▲ | $69,120 | +$10,240 |
| 90th Percentile | $99,200▲ | $86,400 | +$12,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 162 | 128 | +34 |
| State Income Tax | 5% | 4.4%▲ | +0.5999999999999996% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $38,272 | $42,188▲ | -$3,916 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $54,424▲ | $47,701 | +$6,723 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $33,595 | $37,266▲ | -$3,671 |
| Total Employment | 105,000 | 70,000 | +35,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Boston, MA minus Denver, CO.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Boston, MA pays $8,000 more (median: $62,000 vs $54,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 162 vs 128), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($38,272 vs $42,188 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.