School Counselor · Salary Comparison · 2026
School Counselor Salary: San Francisco, CA vs Denver, CO
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for School Counselors in San Francisco, CA and Denver, CO, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$70,000 vs $54,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$37,634 vs $42,188
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$31,540 vs $37,266
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Denver, CO | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $70,000▲ | $54,000 | +$16,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,900▲ | $41,580 | +$12,320 |
| 75th Percentile | $89,600▲ | $69,120 | +$20,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $112,000▲ | $86,400 | +$25,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 186 | 128 | +58 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3% | 4.4%▲ | +4.9% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $37,634 | $42,188▲ | -$4,554 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $58,665▲ | $47,701 | +$10,964 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $31,540 | $37,266▲ | -$5,726 |
| Total Employment | 130,000 | 70,000 | +60,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = San Francisco, CA minus Denver, CO.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $16,000 more (median: $70,000 vs $54,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 186 vs 128), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($37,634 vs $42,188 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.