Average Salaries in Colorado
Explore salaries across 750 occupations in Colorado. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $76.5K, +16.3% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 750 occupations and 2,854,110 total jobs in Colorado.
How the state compares
Colorado is one of the higher-paying states in the country. Average wages here run meaningfully above the national level, though local cost of living often offsets some of that premium.
Colorado has a mid-sized labor market, with strong representation in some occupations but thinner coverage in niche roles.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Orthodontists. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in Colorado
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in Colorado
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | $416K | 160 |
| Dermatologists | $398.8K | 260 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $385.4K | 410 |
| Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeons | $360.8K | N/A |
| Neurologists | $356.3K | 120 |
| Radiologists | $344.3K | 500 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, And Flight Engineers | $307.5K | 5,830 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $300K | 450 |
| Physicians, All Other | $298.3K | 1,990 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $294.5K | 50 |
Largest occupations in Colorado
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 82,010 | $36.3K |
| Retail Salespersons | 76,660 | $38K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 55,520 | $42.4K |
| Registered Nurses | 54,490 | $100.3K |
| Cashiers | 51,670 | $36.9K |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 45,670 | $92.5K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 44,650 | $38.5K |
| Software Developers | 43,320 | $138.4K |
| General And Operations Managers | 41,870 | $131.8K |
| Waiters And Waitresses | 40,680 | $44.9K |
What Colorado specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in Colorado than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Colorado
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric And Space Scientists | 6.22 | $104.7K |
| Mining And Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | 5.98 | $96.8K |
| Information And Record Clerks, All Other | 5.60 | $52.6K |
| Computer Network Architects | 4.93 | $139.2K |
| Cartographers And Photogrammetrists | 4.61 | $87K |
| Paperhangers | 4.38 | $48.2K |
| Petroleum Engineers | 4.16 | $172.2K |
| Forest Fire Inspectors And Prevention Specialists | 4.03 | $50.2K |
| Plant And System Operators, All Other | 4.02 | $51.6K |
| Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other | 3.96 | $39.2K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
Metros inside Colorado
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in Colorado
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $78.5K | 1,583,220 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $72.9K | 305,540 |
| Boulder, CO | $82.3K | 181,330 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $73.3K | 150,000 |
| Greeley, CO | $68.9K | 110,100 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $64.3K | 60,730 |
| Pueblo, CO | $66.1K | 55,390 |
Common salary questions for Colorado
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.