Human Resources Manager Salary in Denver, CO
Human Resources Managers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $170,940 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $121,291 take-home, or $10,108 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median human resources manager salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$29,760
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,598
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,479
- Colorado income tax$6,813
- Take-home pay$121,291
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Human Resources Manager pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $109,540 | $52.66 | $81,780 | $6,815 |
| 25th percentile | $137,500 | $66.11 | $99,906 | $8,325 |
| Median (50th) | $170,940 | $82.18 | $121,291 | $10,108 |
| 75th percentile | $210,620 | $101.26 | $148,190 | $12,349 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $277,530+ | $133.43 | $189,596 | $15,800 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $170,940 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 human resources manager's $121,291 take-home pay has the buying power of $114,661 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Human Resources Manager jobs are about as common in Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for human resources managers, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #5 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $220,460 | $144,650 | $130,996 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $209,340 | $137,845 | $119,230 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $184,990 | $128,708 | $118,881 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $171,360 | $128,391 | $115,529 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $170,940 | $121,291 | $114,661 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $161,250 | $113,734 | $113,668 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $185,100 | $127,938 | $113,659 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $177,960 | $120,744 | $110,892 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: human resources managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.5% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources manager make in Denver, CO?
The median human resources manager salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $170,940 a year, or about $82.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $137,500 and $210,620.
What is a human resources manager’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $170,940 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $121,291 a year ($10,108 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,813 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a human resources manager?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $149,280. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $114,661 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #5 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a human resources manager 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) — 17% of a median human resources manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $203,340
- Financial Manager — $193,400
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $191,440
- Marketing Manager — $182,470
- Sales Manager — $181,580
- Managers, All Other — $175,980
- General and Operations Manager — $142,330
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $137,760
- Construction Manager — $128,850
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $121,130