Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Denver, CO
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $79,230 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,791 take-home, or $5,149 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,601
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,912
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,149
- Colorado income tax$2,778
- Take-home pay$61,791
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Secondary 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) | $51,860 | $24.93 | $42,276 | $3,523 |
| 25th percentile | $63,130 | $30.35 | $50,836 | $4,236 |
| Median (50th) | $79,230 | $38.09 | $61,791 | $5,149 |
| 75th percentile | $98,460 | $47.34 | $74,473 | $6,206 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,070 | $49.07 | $76,854 | $6,404 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,230 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $61,791 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,413 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are about as common in Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #40 of 84 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,670 | $81,058 | $72,938 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $100,750 | $73,258 | $71,710 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,150 | $72,302 | $71,667 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $98,970 | $73,701 | $71,144 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $105,060 | $75,833 | $71,091 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $108,230 | $77,727 | $70,390 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $92,110 | $70,792 | $69,559 |
| 8 | Akron, OH | $81,820 | $64,923 | $69,533 |
| 40 | Denver, CO | $79,230 | $61,791 | $58,413 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 84 metros →
About the job: secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries elsewhere in Colorado
- Colorado Springs, CO — $61,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Denver, CO?
The median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $79,230 a year, or about $38.09 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,130 and $98,460.
What is a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $79,230 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $61,791 a year ($5,149 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,778 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $72,040. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,413 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #40 of 84 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a secondary 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) — 34% of a median secondary 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
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $77,340
- 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