Lawyer Salary in Denver, CO
Lawyers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $177,380 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $125,409 take-home, or $10,451 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$31,305
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,998
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,572
- Colorado income tax$7,096
- Take-home pay$125,409
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Lawyer pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,640 | $43.58 | $69,315 | $5,776 |
| 25th percentile | $124,880 | $60.04 | $91,835 | $7,653 |
| Median (50th) | $177,380 | $85.28 | $125,409 | $10,451 |
| 75th percentile | $267,360+ | $128.54 | $183,523 | $15,294 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $337,050+ | $162.04 | $224,267 | $18,689 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $177,380 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 lawyer's $125,409 take-home pay has the buying power of $118,554 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.5× the national concentration of lawyer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #13 of 149 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $239,200+ | $188,293 | $170,520 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $119,372 | $130,256 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $208,880 | $144,183 | $128,091 |
| 4 | Peoria, IL | $161,150 | $113,580 | $124,497 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 |
| 6 | Chattanooga, TN | $147,640 | $112,178 | $122,647 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $163,380 | $122,936 | $121,702 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $177,380 | $125,409 | $118,554 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 149 metros →
Lawyer salaries elsewhere in Colorado
- Fort Collins, CO — $131,380
- Colorado Springs, CO — $106,320
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Denver, CO?
The median lawyer salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $177,380 a year, or about $85.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $124,880 and $239,200+.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $177,380 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $125,409 a year ($10,451 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,096 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $118,554 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #13 of 149 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer 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 lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $80,500
- Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers — $79,630
- Legal Support Workers, All Other — $72,250