Colorado Paycheck Calculator
A quick take-home pay estimate for Colorado, covering federal income tax, FICA, plus state tax. Start from $75,000 or type your own figures.
How Colorado Taxes Your Paycheck
Colorado taxes wages at one flat rate of 4.4%, applied after a state deduction of $16,100 for a single filer (it follows the federal standard deduction). Everyone pays the same percentage on taxable income, whatever they earn.
You adjust state withholding with Form DR 0004, filed with payroll.
Colorado uses a flat rate and employees pay half of the FAMLI premium, which funds paid family and medical leave.
What a Minimum-Wage Paycheck Looks Like in Colorado
Colorado's minimum wage is $15.16 an hour (US Department of Labor, rates in effect July 1, 2026). A full-time worker (40 hours a week) at that rate grosses $606.40 a week and takes home about $513.44 a week, or $26,699 a year, as a single filer with no deductions. State income tax and programs take about $818 a year from that pay.
Full time at the floor comes to $31,533 a year, near 53% of the state median of $59,800.
Check the Colorado labor department for the latest rate before relying on these numbers; the hourly paycheck calculator lets you try your own wage.
Colorado Wages Against Take-Home Pay
Across roughly 2,873,900 wage and salary jobs in Colorado, the BLS (May 2025) reports a mean annual wage of $77,190 and a median of $59,800. That median sits 17% above the US figure of $50,980.
Here is how far each of those wages goes for a single filer with no deductions, once federal tax, FICA, state tax and programs are taken out of biweekly pay:
| Pay level in Colorado | Annual wage | Take-home per year | Take-home per biweekly check | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower earners (10th percentile) | $36,350 | $30,336 | $1,166.78 | 16.5% |
| Typical worker (median) | $59,800 | $48,043 | $1,847.82 | 19.7% |
| Mean wage | $77,190 | $60,106 | $2,311.75 | 22.1% |
| 75th percentile | $93,220 | $70,607 | $2,715.65 | 24.3% |
These figures cover employees only, not the self-employed, and your job title matters more than any average. Test your real salary in the salary paycheck calculator.
Colorado Payday Rules and Your Check Size
Colorado requires pay at least monthly. This summary comes from the US Department of Labor and has exceptions by industry and job type, so check with the Colorado labor department for your situation.
Using a $59,800 full-time salary (the BLS median wage there), this is what the permitted schedule pays a single filer with no deductions:
| Schedule | Before tax | After tax |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly (12 a year) | $4,983.33 | $4,003.61 |
Want the full comparison? See pay frequency explained, then try the monthly calculator with your salary.
Payroll Programs and Local Taxes in Colorado
State Payroll Programs
Employee-paid programs included in the calculator (estimated rates):
- CO FAMLI: 0.44% of wages up to $184,500.
Local Taxes
Denver charges a small monthly occupational privilege tax.
Pre-Tax Deductions
In Colorado, contributions to a traditional 401(k), an HSA or health premiums typically reduce state taxable wages as well. More in paycheck deductions.
Colorado Income Tax Brackets
Colorado uses one rate, 4.4%, on wages after the state deduction (about $16,100 for a single filer, which follows the federal standard deduction).
Colorado Take-Home Pay by Salary
On $75,000, single with no deductions, Colorado ranks 31 of 51 for what you keep: about $58,671 a year, $209 below the median state at $58,880.
| Salary | Net every two weeks | Net a year | Tax share | State tax and programs a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $982.36 | $25,541 | 14.9% | $744 |
| $45,000 | $1,418.00 | $36,868 | 18.1% | $1,470 |
| $60,000 | $1,853.63 | $48,194 | 19.7% | $2,196 |
| $75,000 | $2,256.57 | $58,671 | 21.8% | $2,922 |
| $100,000 | $2,886.48 | $75,048 | 25% | $4,132 |
| $150,000 | $4,124.59 | $107,239 | 28.5% | $6,552 |
How Colorado Stacks Up Regionally
$75,000 salary, single filer, no deductions, in Colorado and its neighbours:
| State | Yearly take-home | State taxes and programs | Versus this state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado (this page) | $58,671 | $2,922 | +$0 |
| Utah | $58,445 | $3,147 | -$226 |
| New Mexico | $59,233 | $2,359 | +$562 |
| Kansas | $58,207 | $3,385 | -$464 |
| Wyoming | $61,592 | $0 | +$2,922 |
The last column is the yearly take-home difference against Colorado. The state where you work generally taxes your wages and your home state may give a credit, so check both before assuming one side of the border is better.
How to Keep More of Your Colorado Paycheck
- A pre-tax contribution cuts Colorado tax by 4.4% of the amount, wherever the state allows the deduction.
- Expect CO FAMLI on every check; it is not something a W-4 change removes.
- Keep Form DR 0004 up to date with payroll after any move or life change.
- Check whether a city, county or school district tax applies to you: Denver charges a small monthly occupational privilege tax.
- See paycheck deductions and 401(k) deductions for the federal side.
Nearby State Calculators
Colorado Paycheck FAQ
How does Colorado tax wages?
Yes. Colorado charges a flat state income tax of 4.4%.
How much of $60,000 do you keep in Colorado?
A single filer with no deductions takes home about $1,853.63 per biweekly paycheck, roughly $48,194 a year, after federal, FICA and Colorado taxes.
What is the minimum wage in Colorado?
As of July 1, 2026, Colorado sets the floor at $15.16 an hour (US Department of Labor). At 40 hours a week that is about $513.44 take-home per week for a single filer.
How much do people earn in Colorado?
The BLS reports a median annual wage of $59,800 and a mean of $77,190 in Colorado across all occupations (OEWS, May 2025). At the median, a single filer takes home about $48,043 a year.
Does Colorado require a certain payday frequency?
Colorado requires pay at least monthly. Exceptions exist, so confirm with the state labor department.
Could a local tax apply to my pay in Colorado?
Denver charges a small monthly occupational privilege tax. Use the local income tax field in the calculator to include one.
What state form sets withholding in Colorado?
Colorado uses Form DR 0004 for state withholding elections. Federal withholding is set on Form W-4.
If I live in another state but work in Colorado, where do I pay tax?
The state where the work is done normally taxes the wages, while the state you live in may offer a credit. If you live in Utah and work in Colorado, or the other way round, read both states' rules and ask payroll about reciprocity.
Where does Colorado place for keeping your paycheck?
Take-home on $75,000 (single filer) puts Colorado at 31 of 51 including DC, at about $58,671 a year.
How these numbers are figured: 2026 IRS withholding rules (Publication 15-T) and state figures last verified September 2026. Results are estimates. Read the full methodology and sources.