UX Designer · Salary Comparison · 2026
UX Designer Salary: Denver, CO vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for UX Designers in Denver, CO and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$101,000 vs $126,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$78,906 vs $67,380
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$69,702 vs $57,994
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $101,000 | $126,000▲ | -$25,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $77,770 | $97,020▲ | -$19,250 |
| 75th Percentile | $129,280 | $161,280▲ | -$32,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $161,600 | $201,600▲ | -$40,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 187 | -59 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $78,906▲ | $67,380 | +$11,526 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $89,218 | $108,449▲ | -$19,231 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $69,702▲ | $57,994 | +$11,708 |
| Total Employment | 22,400 | 54,400 | -32,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $25,000 more (median: $101,000 vs $126,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 187), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($78,906 vs $67,380 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.