Salaries in Denver, CO

Here’s the thing about Denver in 2026: it’s a city where a lot of people earn a good living, but you wouldn’t call it a bargain. The median household income sits at a healthy $94,157, yet the cost of living index is 105.5—about 5.5% higher than the national average. That gap tells a story.

Let’s talk about what that actually means for your wallet. A 1-bedroom apartment runs you $1,835 a month, which eats up a bigger slice of that median income than you’d like. The COL-adjusted average salary here is $67,221, meaning that typical paycheck doesn’t stretch as far as it might in, say, Atlanta or Raleigh. You’re not getting a mountain discount, but you’re also not paying San Francisco prices. It’s a trade-off.

Who’s actually thriving? The city’s economy is still anchored by a few key sectors. Tech is a big one, with companies like Google and Palantir having a major presence. Aerospace and aerospace engineering are huge, thanks to giants like Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace. Healthcare is also a massive employer, with UCHealth and Centura Health leading the charge. If you’re in software development, marketing management, or pharmacology, you’re in the sweet spot. The data shows a marketing manager here pulls in $160,220, while a software developer earns $129,359. That’s real money, even after adjusting for costs.

Now, the honest catch. Unemployment is a low 3.4%, which is great for job security, but it also means wages aren’t being pressured upward as aggressively as they were a few years ago. Are salaries keeping pace with housing costs? Barely. The city works best for dual-income households or high-earning professionals who can absorb the premium. If you’re in a mid-tier job, you might feel squeezed.

The numbers below will break down exactly what you can expect to earn in the city’s top-paying roles and what your take-home pay looks like after the Denver tax.