Salary Comparison

Data Engineer Salary:
Denver, CO vs New York, NY

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Denver, CO
$163,258
/ year
-18%
difference
New York, NY
$198,846
/ year
Bottom line: Denver offers better purchasing power (your money goes further) even if gross salary differs. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Denver
New York
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$163,258
$198,846✓ higher
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$105,578
$128,593✓ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$252,450
$307,480✓ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$109,246
$133,037✓ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$143,209✓ higher
$137,135
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14×✓ lower
1.45×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$105,578
$128,593✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$252,450
$307,480✓ higher

What if you move from Denver to New York?

Gross salary change
+$35,588
18% increase
Take-home change
+$23,791
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$6,074
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Denver, CO$163,258
P10: $105,578Median: $163,258P90: $252,450
New York, NY$198,846
P10: $128,593Median: $198,846P90: $307,480

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Engineer earn more in Denver or New York?

The median Data Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $163,258/yr compared to $198,846/yr in New York, NY. New York pays 18% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Engineer salary worth more in Denver or New York after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Denver salary has the purchasing power of $143,209/yr in a median-cost city, vs $137,135/yr for New York. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Engineer in Denver vs New York?

After estimated taxes, a Data Engineer in Denver, CO takes home approximately $109,246/yr, vs $133,037/yr in New York, NY. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.