Colorado Jobs and Wages
Wages, unemployment, minimum wage, benefits, visa filings and federal openings for Colorado from BLS, the Department of Labor and USAJOBS.
- Median wage
- $59,800 a year
- May 2025
- Unemployment rate
- 4.1%
- Sep 2026
- Minimum wage
- $15.16/hr
- State law
- Average weekly jobless benefit
- $668
- Sep 2026
Highest paying jobs in Colorado
Occupations with at least 100 jobs
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orthodontists | 160 | $416,000 | $404,120 |
| 2 | Dermatologists | 260 | $398,810 | $357,840 |
| 3 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 410 | $385,410 | $374,610 |
| 4 | Neurologists | 120 | $356,250 | $336,450 |
| 5 | Radiologists | 500 | $344,270 | $343,570 |
| 6 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 5,830 | $307,490 | $290,850 |
| 7 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | 450 | $299,990 | $291,400 |
| 8 | Physicians, All Other | 1,990 | $298,320 | $298,570 |
Most common jobs in Colorado
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 82,010 | $36,270 | $36,890 |
| 2 | Retail Salespersons | 76,660 | $37,950 | $41,540 |
| 3 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 55,520 | $42,350 | $43,450 |
| 4 | Registered Nurses | 54,490 | $100,260 | $99,370 |
| 5 | Cashiers | 51,670 | $36,870 | $38,220 |
| 6 | Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 45,670 | $92,520 | $99,310 |
| 7 | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 44,650 | $38,540 | $40,240 |
| 8 | Software Developers | 43,320 | $138,390 | $150,940 |
Wages by metro area
Visa filings for jobs in this state
Employer filings with the Department of Labor
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)4,110 certified, median offer $118,563
- PERM (FY 2026 through Q3)1,000 certified, median offer $105,114
Top H-1B employers in Colorado
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| # | Employer | Certified | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charter Communications, Inc. | 158 | $126,506 |
| 2 | University of Colorado | 134 | $89,404 |
| 3 | Dish Wireless LLC | 132 | $120,536 |
| 4 | Denver Public Schools District 1 | 105 | $79,708 |
| 5 | DISH Network LLC | 93 | $120,536 |
| 6 | University of Colorado Denver / Anschutz | 84 | $67,122 |
| 7 | Colorado State University | 77 | $85,689 |
| 8 | Infosys Limited | 72 | $99,736 |
More Colorado labor data
- Unemployment by county4.1% statewide
- Jobs by industry2.97 million jobs, +0.4% in a year
- Minimum wage$15.16 an hour
- Unemployment benefits$668 a week on average
- Union membership5.9% in 2025
- Federal job openings731 open now
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median wage in Colorado?
- The median wage for all occupations in Colorado is $59,800 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
- What is the unemployment rate in Colorado?
- Colorado's unemployment rate was 4.1% in Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- What is the highest paying job in Colorado?
- Orthodontists have the highest median wage among occupations with at least 100 jobs in Colorado: $416,000 a year.