Welder · Salary Comparison · 2026
Welder Salary: Denver, CO vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Welders 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
$51,000 vs $64,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Denver, CO
$39,844 vs $34,225
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Denver, CO
$35,196 vs $29,457
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $51,000 | $64,000▲ | -$13,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,270 | $49,280▲ | -$10,010 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,280 | $81,920▲ | -$16,640 |
| 90th Percentile | $81,600 | $102,400▲ | -$20,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 187 | -59 |
| State Income Tax | 4.4%▲ | 6.85% | -2.4499999999999993% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $39,844▲ | $34,225 | +$5,619 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $45,051 | $55,085▲ | -$10,034 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $35,196▲ | $29,457 | +$5,739 |
| Total Employment | 70,000 | 170,000 | -100,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Denver, CO minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $13,000 more (median: $51,000 vs $64,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 128 vs 187), Denver, CO provides better purchasing power ($39,844 vs $34,225 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.