Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Denver, CO
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $77,340 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,544 take-home, or $5,045 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,185
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,795
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,121
- Colorado income tax$2,695
- Take-home pay$60,544
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,390 | $24.71 | $41,919 | $3,493 |
| 25th percentile | $62,100 | $29.86 | $50,053 | $4,171 |
| Median (50th) | $77,340 | $37.18 | $60,544 | $5,045 |
| 75th percentile | $82,850 | $39.83 | $64,178 | $5,348 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,670 | $48.88 | $76,590 | $6,382 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,340 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 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $60,544 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,235 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are about as common in Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #21 of 50 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,560 | $80,981 | $72,869 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $89,950 | $67,843 | $70,785 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $96,030 | $72,680 | $70,738 |
| 4 | Bridgeport, CT | $99,360 | $74,840 | $70,033 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $84,800 | $65,883 | $69,592 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $100,810 | $73,294 | $68,858 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $105,030 | $75,815 | $68,659 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $80,580 | $64,084 | $68,231 |
| 21 | Denver, CO | $77,340 | $60,544 | $57,235 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 50 metros →
About the job: middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.4% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Denver, CO?
The median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $77,340 a year, or about $37.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,100 and $82,850.
What is a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $77,340 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $60,544 a year ($5,045 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,695 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $64,370. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,235 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #21 of 50 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education 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) — 35% of a median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $168,720
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $79,230
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $76,910
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $45,680
- Self-Enrichment Teacher — $45,090
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,910