Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024 reference period
51 Highest Paying Jobs in Colorado (2026)
The highest-paying job in Colorado is Computer and Information Systems Manager with a state-aggregated median salary of $183,050 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 1 BLS-tracked metro. Across all 51 occupations the average median is $108,550, with 31 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Colorado's average cost-of-living index is 113, so the average median equates to $96,062 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Colorado
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across Colorado's single tracked metro.
State median $183,050 · 8,510 jobs · top metro: Denver ($183,050)
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Colorado earn $183,050 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $183,050 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $180,940 · 12,590 jobs · top metro: Denver ($180,940)
Lawyers in Colorado earn $180,940 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $180,940 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $177,470 · 8,190 jobs · top metro: Denver ($177,470)
Financial Managers in Colorado earn $177,470 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $177,470 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $176,620 · 6,580 jobs · top metro: Denver ($176,620)
Sales Managers in Colorado earn $176,620 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $176,620 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $176,100 · 4,210 jobs · top metro: Denver ($176,100)
Marketing Managers in Colorado earn $176,100 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $176,100 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $159,700 · 0 jobs · top metro: Denver ($159,700)
Human Resources Managers in Colorado earn $159,700 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $159,700 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $152,200 · 2,850 jobs · top metro: Denver ($152,200)
Pharmacists in Colorado earn $152,200 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $152,200 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $137,950 · 24,070 jobs · top metro: Denver ($137,950)
General and Operations Managers in Colorado earn $137,950 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $137,950 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $134,940 · 4,260 jobs · top metro: Denver ($134,940)
Medical and Health Services Managers in Colorado earn $134,940 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $134,940 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $134,120 · 31,190 jobs · top metro: Denver ($134,120)
Software Developers in Colorado earn $134,120 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Denver) pays $134,120 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 51 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $183,050 | Denver | $183,050 | 8,510 |
| 2 | Lawyer | Legal | $180,940 | Denver | $180,940 | 12,590 |
| 3 | Financial Manager | Finance | $177,470 | Denver | $177,470 | 8,190 |
| 4 | Sales Manager | Management | $176,620 | Denver | $176,620 | 6,580 |
| 5 | Marketing Manager | Management | $176,100 | Denver | $176,100 | 4,210 |
| 6 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $159,700 | Denver | $159,700 | 0 |
| 7 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $152,200 | Denver | $152,200 | 2,850 |
| 8 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $137,950 | Denver | $137,950 | 24,070 |
| 9 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $134,940 | Denver | $134,940 | 4,260 |
| 10 | Software Developer | Technology | $134,120 | Denver | $134,120 | 31,190 |
| 11 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $132,870 | Denver | $132,870 | 8,250 |
| 12 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $131,730 | Denver | $131,730 | 1,810 |
| 13 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $131,670 | Denver | $131,670 | 3,620 |
| 14 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $130,630 | Denver | $130,630 | 2,190 |
| 15 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $122,950 | Denver | $122,950 | 4,510 |
| 16 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $122,500 | Denver | $122,500 | 4,740 |
| 17 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $118,790 | Denver | $118,790 | 1,400 |
| 18 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $118,090 | Denver | $118,090 | 3,800 |
| 19 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $111,930 | Denver | $111,930 | 0 |
| 20 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $111,530 | Denver | $111,530 | 2,200 |
| 21 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $110,570 | Denver | $110,570 | 2,840 |
| 22 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $110,530 | Denver | $110,530 | 3,870 |
| 23 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $107,870 | Denver | $107,870 | 2,400 |
| 24 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $106,800 | Denver | $106,800 | 2,410 |
| 25 | Network Architect | Technology | $105,490 | Denver | $105,490 | 4,980 |
| 26 | Data Scientist | Technology | $105,380 | Denver | $105,380 | 4,940 |
| 27 | Web Developer | Technology | $104,810 | Denver | $104,810 | 1,720 |
| 28 | Management Analyst | Management | $104,660 | Denver | $104,660 | 11,260 |
| 29 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $102,670 | Denver | $102,670 | 2,650 |
| 30 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $101,020 | Denver | $101,020 | 1,370 |
| 31 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $100,150 | Denver | $100,150 | 7,000 |
| 32 | Architect | Engineering | $98,630 | Denver | $98,630 | 2,650 |
| 33 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $98,500 | Denver | $98,500 | 29,570 |
| 34 | Accountant | Finance | $95,680 | Denver | $95,680 | 23,290 |
| 35 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $94,630 | Denver | $94,630 | 4,370 |
| 36 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $83,840 | Denver | $83,840 | 2,630 |
| 37 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $83,000 | Denver | $83,000 | 860 |
| 38 | Loan Officer | Finance | $81,200 | Denver | $81,200 | 2,270 |
| 39 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $80,670 | Denver | $80,670 | 18,890 |
| 40 | Paralegal | Legal | $79,240 | Denver | $79,240 | 3,660 |
| 41 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $77,530 | Denver | $77,530 | 4,460 |
| 42 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $76,260 | Denver | $76,260 | 8,970 |
| 43 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $75,030 | Denver | $75,030 | 3,250 |
| 44 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $74,540 | Denver | $74,540 | 2,900 |
| 45 | Plumber | Trades | $64,300 | Denver | $64,300 | 5,220 |
| 46 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $64,070 | Denver | $64,070 | 12,000 |
| 47 | Electrician | Trades | $63,010 | Denver | $63,010 | 10,600 |
| 48 | Carpenter | Trades | $61,470 | Denver | $61,470 | 7,560 |
| 49 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $60,240 | Denver | $60,240 | 6,060 |
| 50 | Writer/Author | Creative | $59,780 | Denver | $59,780 | 970 |
| 51 | Welder | Trades | $58,700 | Denver | $58,700 | 1,730 |
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 $1 BLS-published metros covering approximately $332,320 workers across the $51 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 Computer and Information Systems Manager top spot reflects Denver 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 Computer and Information Systems Manager with a state median salary of $183,050. The top-paying metro for this role is Denver at $183,050 median. The role employs roughly 8,510 workers across Colorado.
31 of the 51 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 51 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Colorado is $108,550. The figure is employment-weighted across 1 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $96,062.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For Colorado, this page aggregates Denver. 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 2024 data.