Colorado has a state income tax rate of up to 4.4%. The highest paying profession in Colorado is Surgeon at $369,850/year. Select any profession below for a full city, experience and take-home pay breakdown.
The table below shows median annual salaries for 50+ professions in Colorado, ranked from highest to lowest. All figures are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 release, refreshed for 2026. Click any profession for a full breakdown including city-level data, experience levels and a take-home pay calculator.
| Profession | Category | Annual Median | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | Healthcare | $369,850 | $177.81 |
| Pilot | Transport | $209,600 | $100.77 |
| Software Developer | Technology | $138,900 | $66.78 |
| Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $136,500 | $65.62 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $130,200 | $62.60 |
| Financial Advisor | Finance | $104,550 | $50.26 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $102,600 | $49.33 |
| Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $101,200 | $48.65 |
| Network Administrator | Technology | $97,450 | $46.85 |
| Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $85,450 | $41.08 |
| Accountant | Finance | $83,850 | $40.31 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $81,500 | $39.18 |
| Respiratory Therapist | Healthcare | $73,200 | $35.19 |
| Police Officer | Public Safety | $72,600 | $34.90 |
| Radiologic Technologist | Healthcare | $72,350 | $34.78 |
| Plumber | Trades | $66,700 | $32.07 |
| School Counselor | Education | $66,600 | $32.02 |
| Teacher | Education | $64,900 | $31.20 |
| Electrician | Trades | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Librarian | Education | $64,250 | $30.89 |
| Court Reporter | Legal | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $62,150 | $29.88 |
| HVAC Technician | Trades | $60,150 | $28.92 |
| Real Estate Agent | Business | $59,450 | $28.58 |
| Firefighter | Public Safety | $59,150 | $28.44 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Trades | $59,050 | $28.39 |
| Truck Driver | Transport | $57,050 | $27.43 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Healthcare | $56,900 | $27.36 |
| Carpenter | Trades | $56,100 | $26.97 |
| Correctional Officer | Public Safety | $55,500 | $26.68 |
| Social Worker | Social Services | $54,350 | $26.13 |
| Mason | Trades | $52,900 | $25.43 |
| Roofer | Trades | $52,550 | $25.26 |
| Paramedic | Public Safety | $52,350 | $25.17 |
| Solar Installer | Trades | $50,300 | $24.18 |
| Bookkeeper | Business | $49,650 | $23.87 |
| Welder | Trades | $49,350 | $23.73 |
| Dispatcher | Transport | $49,250 | $23.68 |
| Painter | Trades | $49,200 | $23.65 |
| Bus Driver | Transport | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| Delivery Driver | Transport | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Dental Assistant | Healthcare | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Medical Assistant | Healthcare | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| Pharmacy Technician | Healthcare | $42,300 | $20.34 |
| Veterinary Technician | Healthcare | $40,800 | $19.62 |
| EMT | Public Safety | $40,750 | $19.59 |
| Cosmetologist | Personal Services | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| Teaching Assistant | Education | $33,000 | $15.87 |