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 — May 2025
| Percentile | Colorado | National |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37K | $31K |
| 25th | $44K | $38K |
| 50th (median)median | $60K | $51K |
| 75th | $94K | $81K |
| 90th | $151K | $129K |
State figures derived from BLS OEWS May 2025 state median. National figures from BLS national percentile data.
Key insight
Colorado's state median of $60K 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 $60K based on May 2025 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.
What is the average salary in Colorado?
"Average" and "median" measure different things, but BLS reports the median: the midpoint where half of Colorado workers earn more and half earn less. The Colorado median is $60K, above the national median of $51K. Use the calculator above to see exactly where your salary ranks.
Salary percentiles by state
Alabama
$46K median
Alaska
$61K median
Arizona
$50K median
Arkansas
$44K median
California
$58K median
Colorado
$60K median
Connecticut
$60K median
Delaware
$52K median
Florida
$48K median
Georgia
$48K median
Hawaii
$56K median
Idaho
$48K median
Illinois
$52K median
Indiana
$48K median
Iowa
$49K median
Kansas
$48K median
Kentucky
$47K median
Louisiana
$46K median
Maine
$51K median
Maryland
$60K median
Massachusetts
$64K median
Michigan
$49K median
Minnesota
$57K median
Mississippi
$40K median
Missouri
$48K median
Montana
$49K median
Nebraska
$49K median
Nevada
$48K median
New Hampshire
$56K median
New Jersey
$59K median
New Mexico
$47K median
New York
$60K median
North Carolina
$48K median
North Dakota
$52K median
Ohio
$49K median
Oklahoma
$46K median
Oregon
$57K median
Pennsylvania
$50K median
Rhode Island
$57K median
South Carolina
$46K median
South Dakota
$47K median
Tennessee
$47K median
Texas
$49K median
Utah
$50K median
Vermont
$56K median
Virginia
$56K median
Washington
$63K median
Washington D.C.
$92K median
West Virginia
$45K median
Wisconsin
$50K median
Wyoming
$50K median