High school teacher pay in Denver, CO
High school teachers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a typical $79,230 a year. The middle half earn $63,130 to $98,460, and the top 10% earn more than $102,070. About 9,070 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, SOC 25-2031).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $51,860 |
| 25th percentile | $63,130 |
| Median (typical) | $79,230 |
| 75th percentile | $98,460 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $102,070 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 20 of 50 large metros for high school teachers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $79,230, a single filer keeps about $61,700 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and Colorado state and local (about $69) income tax. Prices in Denver are 6% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $58,300 would in a typical US city. That ranks Denver No. 24 of 50 large metros for high school teachers after cost of living.
Where high school teachers’ pay goes furthest
- Seattle, WA$102,670 typical · worth $73k
- Sacramento, CA$105,060 typical · worth $72.4k
- San Jose, CA$108,230 typical · worth $71.7k
- Chicago, IL$98,970 typical · worth $71.1k
All 50 metros for high school teachers →
Where does your salary land?
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Common questions
How much does a high school teacher make in Denver, CO?
The typical (median) high school teacher in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earns $79,230 a year. The middle half earn between $63,130 and $98,460, and the top 10% earn more than $102,070. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a high school teacher in Denver?
Anything above $79,230 pays more than half of high school teachers in Denver. $98,460 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $102,070 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a high school teacher in Denver take home after taxes?
At the typical $79,230, a single filer keeps about $61,700 a year ($5,140 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, Colorado state, and local income tax. With local prices 6% above the US average, that buys what $58,300 would in a typical US city.
Where do high school teachers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical high school teacher pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in Seattle, WA, Sacramento, CA, San Jose, CA. Denver, CO ranks No. 24.
More: High school teacher pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Denver, CO
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.