Average Teacher Salary in Denver, CO

The average Teacher in Denver, CO earns $70,860 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$70860
Median Salary
$67460
vs. National
4.0% below
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$66987

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Denver’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 105.782, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Teachers actually earn in Denver

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $49370
25th $53960
Median $67460
75th $82840
90th (top) $98970

8700 Teachers employed in the Denver metro.

Can a Teacher afford a home in Denver?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Denver home: $586700.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$49370$19835834%
Median$67460$27104046%
Top (90th)$98970$39764168%

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Teacher in Denver

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and CO state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Denver at a glance

Population713734
Median household income$91681
Median home value$586700
Median rent$1770/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)105.782
Bachelor’s degree or higher33.8%
Poverty rate11%

In Denver, CO, Teachers earn a median of $67,460 a year — about 9% below the U.S. median of $73,800. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #20.

What that pay is worth in Denver

Local prices run 106 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $70,860 salary buys less than it looks — about $66,987 in national-average buying power.

Can Teachers afford a home in Denver?

A typical Denver home runs about $586,700 — 8.3 times the average Teacher salary, a stretch against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,770/mo takes roughly 30% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Teacher pay ladder in Denver

Entry-level (10th percentile) Teachers earn about $49,370; the top 10% reach $98,970 — a $49,600 spread, moderate for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Teacher job market in Denver

Denver employs roughly 8,700 Teachers. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Denver with other cities

See the full Teacher salary by city ranking to weigh Denver against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Teachers make in Denver?

The average Teacher in Denver, CO earns about $70,860 per year, 4.0% below the national average of $73,800.

What is the take-home pay for Teachers in Denver after taxes?

After federal and CO taxes, this $70,860 salary is worth about $56,270 a year - roughly $4,689 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 21%.

What do the highest-paid Teachers earn in Denver?

The top 10% of Teachers in Denver earn about $98,970 a year, versus about $49,370 for the bottom 10%.

Can Teachers afford a home in Denver?

A typical Denver home runs about $586,700 - roughly 8.3x this salary, a stretch by the 3x rule, so budgeting discipline matters.

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