School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: Denver, CO vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors 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
$54,000 vs $70,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$42,188 vs $37,634
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$37,266 vs $31,540
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $54,000 | $70,000▲ | -$16,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,580 | $53,900▲ | -$12,320 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,120 | $89,600▲ | -$20,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $86,400 | $112,000▲ | -$25,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 186 | -58 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 9.3% | -4.9% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $42,188▲ | $37,634 | +$4,554 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $47,701 | $58,665▲ | -$10,964 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $37,266▲ | $31,540 | +$5,726 |
| Total Employment | 70,000 | 130,000 | -60,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $16,000 more (median: $54,000 vs $70,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 186), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($42,188 vs $37,634 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.