Salary Comparison

Data Scientist Salary:
Boston, MA vs Denver, CO

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

Boston, MA
$158,941
/ year
+5%
difference
Denver, CO
$150,932
/ year
Bottom line: Denver offers better purchasing power despite Boston paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Boston
Denver
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$158,941✓ higher
$150,932
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$102,786✓ higher
$97,607
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$245,774✓ higher
$233,390
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$106,640✓ higher
$101,807
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$113,529
$132,396✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40×
1.14×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$102,786✓ higher
$97,607
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$245,774✓ higher
$233,390

What if you move from Boston to Denver?

Gross salary change
$8,009
5% decrease
Take-home change
$4,833
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$18,867
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

Boston, MA$158,941
P10: $102,786Median: $158,941P90: $245,774
Denver, CO$150,932
P10: $97,607Median: $150,932P90: $233,390

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Data Scientist earn more in Boston or Denver?

The median Data Scientist salary in Boston, MA is $158,941/yr compared to $150,932/yr in Denver, CO. Boston pays 5% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Data Scientist salary worth more in Boston or Denver after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $113,529/yr in a median-cost city, vs $132,396/yr for Denver. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Data Scientist in Boston vs Denver?

After estimated taxes, a Data Scientist in Boston, MA takes home approximately $106,640/yr, vs $101,807/yr in Denver, CO. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.