Average and median wage in Colorado
Half of the 2,873,900 workers in Colorado earn less than $59,800 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $77,190, or $37.11 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $36,350 or less and the top 10% $136,330 or more. The average is 11% more than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 17% more than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $36K10th
- $44K25th
- $60KMedian
- $93K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Colorado per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,190 | $37.11 | $69,770 |
| Median | $59,800 | $28.75 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $36,350 | $17.48 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $43,680 | $21.00 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $93,220 | $44.82 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $136,330 | $65.54 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Colorado
- Boulder$91,760
- Denver$81,690
- Colorado Springs$70,780
- Fort Collins$70,620
- Greeley$66,780
- Grand Junction$62,570
- Pueblo$62,480
Map of Colorado metro areas
Loading map…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $91,760 | $69,580 | $70,054 | 105 | $727,954 |
| Denver | $81,690 | $62,320 | $63,413 | 106 | $573,221 |
| Colorado Springs | $70,780 | $52,710 | $56,218 | 101 | $457,300 |
| Fort Collins | $70,620 | $55,310 | $56,113 | 101 | $556,500 |
| Greeley | $66,780 | $55,070 | $53,578 | 100 | $497,279 |
| Grand Junction | $62,570 | $48,510 | $50,411 | 95 | $436,543 |
| Pueblo | $62,480 | $48,940 | $50,342 | 92 | $287,672 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Colorado
- Athletes and Sports Competitors · Colorado Springs$555,730
- Surgeons, All Other · Boulder$396,510
- Physicians, All Other · Boulder$369,410
- Dermatologists · Colorado Springs$369,320
- Neurologists · Denver$344,000
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Boulder$317,330
- Physicians, All Other · Grand Junction$313,960
- Physicians, All Other · Pueblo$307,350
- General Internal Medicine Physicians · Denver$301,220
- Physicians, All Other · Colorado Springs$294,920
Most common jobs in Colorado
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 82,010 | $36,890 | $36,270 | $38,240 |
| Retail Salespersons | 76,660 | $41,540 | $37,950 | $42,170 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 55,520 | $43,450 | $42,350 | $44,510 |
| Registered Nurses | 54,490 | $99,370 | $100,260 | $105,650 |
| Cashiers | 51,670 | $38,220 | $36,870 | $40,360 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 45,670 | $99,310 | $92,520 | $104,540 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 44,650 | $40,240 | $38,540 | $44,030 |
| Software Developers | 43,320 | $150,940 | $138,390 | $166,480 |
| General and Operations Managers | 41,870 | $161,970 | $131,840 | $180,640 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 40,680 | $51,240 | $44,860 | $55,310 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Colorado
Colorado income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Colorado's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- $100K salary after taxes in every stateWhere Colorado ranks for take-home pay
- Median vs. average salaryWhy Colorado's median is below its average
Cost of living: Colorado vs other states
Colorado at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in Colorado: questions
What is the average salary in Colorado?
$77,190 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 11% more than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Colorado?
$59,800 a year: half of Colorado workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Colorado?
$37.11 an hour on average, and $28.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Colorado pays the most?
Boulder, with an average of $91,760 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Colorado expensive to live in?
BEA puts Colorado prices 3% above the U.S. average (price parity 103.1). Within the state, Denver 106, Boulder 105, Fort Collins 101 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Colorado.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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