Salary Comparison

Frontend Developer 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
$187,864
/ year
+24%
difference
Denver, CO
$151,608
/ year
Bottom line: Boston wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Boston
Denver
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$187,864โœ“ higher
$151,608
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$121,491โœ“ higher
$98,044
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$290,498โœ“ higher
$234,435
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$125,569โœ“ higher
$102,215
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$134,189โœ“ higher
$132,989
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40ร—
1.14ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$121,491โœ“ higher
$98,044
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$290,498โœ“ higher
$234,435

What if you move from Boston to Denver?

Gross salary change
$36,256
24% decrease
Take-home change
$23,354
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$1,200
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 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Boston, MA$187,864
P10: $121,491Median: $187,864P90: $290,498
Denver, CO$151,608
P10: $98,044Median: $151,608P90: $234,435

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Frontend Developer earn more in Boston or Denver?

The median Frontend Developer salary in Boston, MA is $187,864/yr compared to $151,608/yr in Denver, CO. Boston pays 24% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Frontend Developer 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 $134,189/yr in a median-cost city, vs $132,989/yr for Denver. Boston offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Frontend Developer in Boston vs Denver?

After estimated taxes, a Frontend Developer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $125,569/yr, vs $102,215/yr in Denver, CO. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.