Paramedic Salary in Denver, CO
Paramedics in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $65,090 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,324 take-home, or $4,360 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$5,631
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,036
- Medicare (1.45%)$944
- Colorado income tax$2,156
- Take-home pay$52,324
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Paramedic pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,380 | $26.14 | $44,190 | $3,683 |
| 25th percentile | $59,940 | $28.82 | $48,413 | $4,034 |
| Median (50th) | $65,090 | $31.29 | $52,324 | $4,360 |
| 75th percentile | $78,370 | $37.68 | $61,223 | $5,102 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,320 | $41.98 | $67,126 | $5,594 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,090 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 paramedic's $52,324 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,464 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Paramedic jobs are about as common in Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for paramedics, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #27 of 40 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $123,310 | $95,548 | $85,977 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $66,830 | $55,845 | $60,583 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $77,670 | $59,771 | $57,697 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $67,290 | $56,169 | $57,276 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,430 | $59,560 | $56,820 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | $71,440 | $56,839 | $56,350 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $63,450 | $53,162 | $55,183 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $79,550 | $61,095 | $54,276 |
| 27 | Denver, CO | $65,090 | $52,324 | $49,464 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 40 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paramedic make in Denver, CO?
The median paramedic salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $65,090 a year, or about $31.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,940 and $78,370.
What is a paramedic’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $65,090 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $52,324 a year ($4,360 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,156 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a paramedic?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $60,600. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,464 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #27 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a paramedic 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) — 40% of a median paramedic’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $168,620
- Optometrist — $158,130
- Pharmacist — $157,890
- Veterinarian — $135,090
- Physician Assistant — $134,540
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,040
- Dental Hygienist — $113,760
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $112,090
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $108,410
- Occupational Therapist — $107,500