Colorado Salary Percentile
Calculator
Colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax and a strong economy anchored by technology, aerospace, energy, and outdoor industries. Denver and Boulder are major tech hubs with some of the fastest salary growth in the Mountain West.
Enter your gross annual salary (pre-tax). Hourly workers: multiply hourly rate by 2,080.
Colorado salary percentiles — 2024
| Percentile | Colorado | National |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17K | $15K |
| 25th | $30K | $26K |
| 50th (median)median | $67K | $59K |
| 75th | $110K | $97K |
| 90th | $165K | $145K |
| 95th | $227K | $200K |
| 99th | $397K | $350K |
State figures derived from BLS OEWS 2024 state median. National figures from BLS national percentile data.
Key insight
Colorado's state median of $67K is 14% above the national median. Denver's tech and energy sector, combined with Boulder's startup ecosystem, drive wages well above the US average.
Colorado salary — frequently asked questions
What is the median salary in Colorado?
The median annual salary in Colorado is approximately $67K based on 2024 BLS data, above the national median. Denver and Boulder are significantly above the state median, while rural Colorado and smaller mountain towns are well below it.
What is a good salary in Denver?
Denver's rapid growth has pushed costs higher. A salary of $75,000-$85,000 is recommended for comfortable single living in Denver today. The Denver metro's tech and aerospace salaries are strong, but housing affordability has declined significantly as population growth outpaced housing construction.
What industries pay the most in Colorado?
Technology, aerospace and defense (Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing all have major Colorado operations), energy (both fossil fuels and renewables), and healthcare are the highest-paying sectors in Colorado. The outdoor recreation and tourism industry employs many, but at below-median wages.
How does Colorado income tax work?
Colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax on all earned income. This is moderate compared to other high-cost states and has been slightly reduced in recent years through the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) refund mechanism. Colorado also has TABOR-required tax refunds when state revenues exceed a cap, which periodically returns money to taxpayers.
Salary percentiles by state
Alabama
$48K median
Alaska
$62K median
Arizona
$58K median
Arkansas
$46K median
California
$72K median
Colorado
$67K median
Connecticut
$70K median
Delaware
$62K median
Florida
$55K median
Georgia
$55K median
Hawaii
$60K median
Idaho
$52K median
Illinois
$62K median
Indiana
$52K median
Iowa
$55K median
Kansas
$52K median
Kentucky
$49K median
Louisiana
$48K median
Maine
$55K median
Maryland
$68K median
Massachusetts
$75K median
Michigan
$55K median
Minnesota
$64K median
Mississippi
$43K median
Missouri
$52K median
Montana
$50K median
Nebraska
$55K median
Nevada
$55K median
New Hampshire
$68K median
New Jersey
$70K median
New Mexico
$49K median
New York
$68K median
North Carolina
$56K median
North Dakota
$55K median
Ohio
$54K median
Oklahoma
$48K median
Oregon
$63K median
Pennsylvania
$58K median
Rhode Island
$62K median
South Carolina
$50K median
South Dakota
$48K median
Tennessee
$52K median
Texas
$58K median
Utah
$60K median
Vermont
$57K median
Virginia
$65K median
Washington
$74K median
Washington D.C.
$85K median
West Virginia
$44K median
Wisconsin
$57K median
Wyoming
$55K median