Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
64 Highest Paying Jobs in Colorado (2026)
The highest-paying job in Colorado is Family Medicine Physician with a state-aggregated median salary of $261,492 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 2 BLS-tracked metros. Across all 64 occupations the average median is $117,618, with 44 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Colorado's average cost-of-living index is 109, so the average median equates to $107,906 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
The 64 occupations below are ranked by median wage across Colorado — rolling up wage data across all metropolitan areas in the state. State-level rollups smooth over the substantial intra-state wage variation typical of larger states. For state-level wage comparisons, BLS OEWS state files aggregate across MSAs and non-MSA areas. The aggregation hides legitimate within-state differences: a job in Colorado's primary metro often pays substantially more (and costs substantially more to live near) than the same job in smaller cities.
Use the per-metro pages for the geographic-specific view. The state-level ranking is most useful for comparing Colorado to other states, not for comparing within-state options.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Colorado
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across Colorado's 2 BLS-tracked metros.
State median $261,492 · 1,370 jobs · top metro: Colorado Springs ($283,470)
Family Medicine Physicians in Colorado earn $261,492 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Colorado Springs) pays $283,470 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $202,032 · 8,780 jobs · top metro: Denver ($203,340)
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Colorado earn $202,032 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $203,340 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $191,606 · 8,200 jobs · top metro: Denver ($193,400)
Financial Managers in Colorado earn $191,606 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $193,400 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $183,823 · 460 jobs · top metro: Colorado Springs ($230,720)
Pediatricians in Colorado earn $183,823 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Colorado Springs) pays $230,720 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $181,521 · 4,650 jobs · top metro: Denver ($182,470)
Marketing Managers in Colorado earn $181,521 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $182,470 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $181,231 · 6,530 jobs · top metro: Denver ($181,580)
Sales Managers in Colorado earn $181,231 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $181,580 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $169,925 · 13,250 jobs · top metro: Denver ($177,380)
Lawyers in Colorado earn $169,925 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $177,380 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $169,169 · 2,790 jobs · top metro: Denver ($170,940)
Human Resources Managers in Colorado earn $169,169 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $170,940 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $167,407 · 2,260 jobs · top metro: Denver ($168,620)
Dentists in Colorado earn $167,407 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $168,620 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $157,890 · 2,630 jobs · top metro: Denver ($157,890)
Pharmacists in Colorado earn $157,890 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $157,890 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 64 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $261,492 | Colorado Springs | $283,470 | 1,370 |
| 2 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $202,032 | Denver | $203,340 | 8,780 |
| 3 | Financial Manager | Finance | $191,606 | Denver | $193,400 | 8,200 |
| 4 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $183,823 | Colorado Springs | $230,720 | 460 |
| 5 | Marketing Manager | Management | $181,521 | Denver | $182,470 | 4,650 |
| 6 | Sales Manager | Management | $181,231 | Denver | $181,580 | 6,530 |
| 7 | Lawyer | Legal | $169,925 | Denver | $177,380 | 13,250 |
| 8 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $169,169 | Denver | $170,940 | 2,790 |
| 9 | Dentist | Healthcare | $167,407 | Denver | $168,620 | 2,260 |
| 10 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $157,890 | Denver | $157,890 | 2,630 |
| 11 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $153,542 | Denver | $158,130 | 570 |
| 12 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $151,630 | Denver | $160,520 | 9,530 |
| 13 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $138,742 | Denver | $142,330 | 27,520 |
| 14 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $137,634 | Denver | $139,230 | 12,720 |
| 15 | Software Developer | Technology | $137,103 | Denver | $137,610 | 31,860 |
| 16 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $135,468 | Denver | $137,760 | 5,750 |
| 17 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $135,406 | Denver | $136,670 | 4,580 |
| 18 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $134,679 | Colorado Springs | $135,200 | 2,090 |
| 19 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $133,476 | Denver | $135,090 | 1,440 |
| 20 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $133,349 | Denver | $134,040 | 2,780 |
| 21 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $131,238 | Denver | $131,740 | 1,710 |
| 22 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $131,102 | Colorado Springs | $140,590 | 660 |
| 23 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $128,012 | Colorado Springs | $128,740 | 4,950 |
| 24 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $126,310 | Denver | $128,180 | 5,030 |
| 25 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $124,387 | Colorado Springs | $128,520 | 4,230 |
| 26 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $121,920 | Denver | $133,970 | 290 |
| 27 | Database Architect | Technology | $119,884 | Denver | $120,120 | 910 |
| 28 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $118,888 | Denver | $119,020 | 3,160 |
| 29 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $114,654 | Colorado Springs | $118,410 | 2,600 |
| 30 | Data Scientist | Technology | $114,238 | Colorado Springs | $127,600 | 5,090 |
| 31 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $112,505 | Denver | $114,730 | 280 |
| 32 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $111,211 | Denver | $112,090 | 3,190 |
| 33 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $108,065 | Denver | $108,680 | 3,060 |
| 34 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $107,126 | Denver | $107,500 | 2,390 |
| 35 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $105,851 | Colorado Springs | $117,020 | 600 |
| 36 | Network Architect | Technology | $104,428 | Denver | $105,090 | 5,870 |
| 37 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $104,343 | Denver | $104,480 | 6,440 |
| 38 | Management Analyst | Management | $104,280 | Colorado Springs | $117,850 | 11,650 |
| 39 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $103,649 | Denver | $104,710 | 10,230 |
| 40 | Architect | Engineering | $103,563 | Denver | $104,090 | 2,260 |
| 41 | Statistician | Technology | $103,316 | Denver | $104,060 | 540 |
| 42 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $101,344 | Denver | $102,340 | 3,520 |
| 43 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $100,730 | Denver | $101,070 | 1,680 |
| 44 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $100,217 | Denver | $101,130 | 37,180 |
| 45 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $98,740 | Denver | $98,740 | 4,700 |
| 46 | Accountant | Finance | $98,488 | Denver | $100,020 | 25,300 |
| 47 | Web Developer | Technology | $98,330 | Denver | $98,330 | 2,120 |
| 48 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $97,838 | Denver | $99,040 | 19,680 |
| 49 | Loan Officer | Finance | $96,838 | Denver | $100,130 | 2,350 |
| 50 | Web Designer | Technology | $91,062 | Denver | $92,060 | 980 |
| 51 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $82,242 | Denver | $82,750 | 3,860 |
| 52 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $81,888 | Denver | $82,930 | 5,310 |
| 53 | Paralegal | Legal | $78,459 | Denver | $80,500 | 4,300 |
| 54 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $75,142 | Denver | $79,230 | 11,830 |
| 55 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $73,971 | Denver | $74,490 | 1,000 |
| 56 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $73,247 | Denver | $76,910 | 15,670 |
| 57 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $71,138 | Colorado Springs | $77,300 | 3,400 |
| 58 | Writer/Author | Creative | $71,026 | Colorado Springs | $83,770 | 990 |
| 59 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $70,933 | Denver | $72,500 | 2,990 |
| 60 | Carpenter | Trades | $63,833 | Denver | $64,910 | 8,470 |
| 61 | Plumber | Trades | $63,372 | Denver | $63,900 | 6,810 |
| 62 | Electrician | Trades | $62,717 | Denver | $63,150 | 11,740 |
| 63 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $61,708 | Denver | $61,960 | 7,940 |
| 64 | Welder | Trades | $58,198 | Denver | $58,890 | 2,460 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Colorado
Colorado's pay distribution reflects Denver-Boulder's tech, aerospace, and outdoor-industry tilt, plus a growing financial-services presence. Above-average COL is offset by strong wages in technical occupations.
$Colorado tracks $2 BLS-published metros covering approximately $409,180 workers across the $64 occupations on this page. State-aggregated medians are employment-weighted across metros, which is the right way to read "state pay" when BLS publishes by metro. The Family Medicine Physician top spot reflects Colorado Springs pulling the upper end of the distribution; smaller metros in Colorado typically pay 10–25% less for the same role.
Metro-by-Metro Detail
For salary data specific to one metro within Colorado, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Colorado is Family Medicine Physician with a state median salary of $261,492. The top-paying metro for this role is Colorado Springs at $283,470 median. The role employs roughly 1,370 workers across Colorado.
44 of the 64 BLS-tracked occupations in Colorado have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally for high-paying occupations.
Across 64 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Colorado is $117,618. The figure is employment-weighted across 2 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $107,906.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For Colorado, this page aggregates Denver, Colorado Springs. Some non-MSA areas (small towns, rural counties) are excluded from OEWS metro tables but covered in BLS state-level summaries; we use metro-level data to preserve the percentile granularity.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers. State aggregates are computed by employment-weighting metro-level percentile wages across the BLS-tracked metros in Colorado.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Colorado, using OEWS 2025 data.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.