Chemical Technician Salary in Denver, CO
Chemical Technicians in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $59,800 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,307 take-home, or $4,026 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemical technician salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,996
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,708
- Medicare (1.45%)$867
- Colorado income tax$1,923
- Take-home pay$48,307
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Chemical Technician pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,240 | $22.23 | $38,008 | $3,167 |
| 25th percentile | $49,080 | $23.60 | $40,165 | $3,347 |
| Median (50th) | $59,800 | $28.75 | $48,307 | $4,026 |
| 75th percentile | $76,320 | $36.69 | $59,871 | $4,989 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,220 | $45.30 | $71,676 | $5,973 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,800 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chemical technician's $48,307 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,666 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chemical Technician jobs are about as common in Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for chemical technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #14 of 21 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $65,050 | $54,448 | $55,205 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $62,080 | $51,136 | $54,445 |
| 3 | Cincinnati, OH | $61,760 | $50,888 | $53,359 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,940 | $53,867 | $52,526 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $62,020 | $50,213 | $52,471 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $62,990 | $52,792 | $51,210 |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | $61,730 | $49,826 | $51,183 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $67,850 | $53,390 | $49,314 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $59,800 | $48,307 | $45,666 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 21 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical technician make in Denver, CO?
The median chemical technician salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $59,800 a year, or about $28.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,080 and $76,320.
What is a chemical technician’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $59,800 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $48,307 a year ($4,026 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,923 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a chemical technician?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $60,390. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,666 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #14 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemical technician afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median chemical technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- School Psychologist — $129,340
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers — $120,480
- Urban and Regional Planner — $105,890
- Chemist — $102,390
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $102,120
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $95,780
- Biological Technician — $65,140