Salaries in Laramie, WY

Here’s the thing about Laramie in 2026: you can make a decent living here without the soul-crushing commute or housing costs you’d find in Denver or Salt Lake City. The city’s median household income sits at $52,414, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story.

With a cost-of-living index of 97.0—just a hair below the national average—your paycheck stretches further than you might expect. A one-bedroom apartment runs you about $917 a month, and the unemployment rate is a tight 3.2%. That combination means you’re not just employed; you’re likely to have some room to breathe. The COL-adjusted average salary of $79,574 feels like a solid middle-class life here, especially if you’re coming from a pricier coastal city.

Laramie isn’t a corporate headquarters town, but it’s got a stable, educated base. The University of Wyoming is the giant anchor, and with 55.8% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, the workforce is sharper than you’d guess for a place of 31,848 people. Healthcare, education, and the trades—especially construction management—are where the money is. The top-paying roles are a mix: marketing managers and software developers earn the most (north of $120k), but you’ll also find solid six-figure salaries in pharmacy and construction.

Now, the catch. Wages here haven’t necessarily kept pace with the national inflation surge of the last few years. You can live comfortably, but you likely won’t get rich. It’s a fantastic fit for remote workers earning a coastal salary or professionals in those top-tier fields. For everyone else, it’s a trade-off: lower pay for a much lower financial stress level.

The data below breaks it all down, from top occupations to what a typical salary actually buys you on the ground.