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