SOC 25-2031 · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Denver, CO

The average salary for secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) in Denver, Colorado is $78,560 a year, according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $79,230: half of the 9,070 people in this job in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($76,320).

$78,560average per year

Median $79,230Take-home ≈ $61,349

  • $52K10th
  • $63K25th
  • $79KMedian
  • $98K75th
  • $102K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

9,070people in this job
+3%vs U.S. average
#2 of 7Colorado metros
106cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay range in Denver

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,070 or more. The middle half of secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) in Denver earn between $63,130 and $98,460.

  • $52K10th
  • $63K25th
  • $79KMedian
  • $98K75th
  • $102K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$78,560$6,547—
Median$79,230$6,602—
Entry level (25th percentile)$63,130$5,261—
Experienced (75th percentile)$98,460$8,205—

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.

Secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) in Denver earn 7% more than the Colorado average ($73,330) and about the same as the U.S. average ($76,320). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $72,040.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Denver$78,560$79,230$51,860$102,0709,070
Colorado$73,330$72,900$48,970$101,30018,310
United States$76,320$72,040$48,780$107,6001,065,210

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary after taxes in Denver

On the average salary of $78,560, a single filer in Denver takes home about $61,349 a year, or $5,112 a month and $2,360 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.

Colorado paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Denver a good place for secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education)? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $78,560 buys what about $74,266 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $78,560 is worth in another city

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in other Colorado cities

Denver ranks 2nd of 7 Colorado metro areas for this job; Boulder pays the most ($88,940).

All Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries in Colorado

Highest-paying cities for secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education)

San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($119,470).

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by city

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Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in Denver: questions

What is the entry-level secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) salary in Denver?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,130, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) take-home pay in Denver?

About $61,349 a year ($5,112 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,560. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.

Do secondary school teachers (except special and career/technical education) earn more in Denver than elsewhere?

The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($76,320).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-2031; area Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.

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