School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: New York, NY vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in New York, NY and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$67,000 vs $54,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$35,829 vs $42,188
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$30,838 vs $37,266
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $67,000▲ | $54,000 | +$13,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,590▲ | $41,580 | +$10,010 |
| 75th Percentile | $85,760▲ | $69,120 | +$16,640 |
| 90th Percentile | $107,200▲ | $86,400 | +$20,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 187 | 128 | +59 |
| State Income Tax | 6.85% | 4.4%▲ | +2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $35,829 | $42,188▲ | -$6,359 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $57,667▲ | $47,701 | +$9,966 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $30,838 | $37,266▲ | -$6,428 |
| Total Employment | 170,000 | 70,000 | +100,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = New York, NY minus Denver, CO.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $13,000 more (median: $67,000 vs $54,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 187 vs 128), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($35,829 vs $42,188 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.