Denver Paycheck Calculator 2026
No percentage income tax. Denver charges an Occupational Privilege Tax (head tax) of $5.75 per month withheld from employees, plus $4.00 per month paid by the employer, for people working in Denver who earn at least $500 in a month. A single filer earning $75,000 in Denver takes home about $58,671 a year (21.8% effective tax rate) — and a worker on the city's median full-time pay of $79,282 keeps about $5,123 a month.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Population 729,019 · Median household income $92,504 · Combined sales tax 9.150%
| Bi-weekly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $60,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$193.08 | -$5,020 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$143.08 | -$3,720 |
| Medicare | -$33.46 | -$870 |
| Colorado income tax | -$74.29 | -$1,932 |
| FAMLI paid family & medical leave (employee share) | -$10.15 | -$264 |
| Take-home pay | $1,853.63 | $48,194 |
- Take-home $48,194 80.3%
- Federal income tax $5,020 8.4%
- Social Security $3,720 6.2%
- Medicare $870 1.5%
- State tax $2,196 3.7%
Take-home pay vs. taxes at every income level in Denver
- Take-home pay
- Total taxes
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2026 take-home pay in Denver at common salaries
Single filer, standard deduction, paid bi-weekly. “Worth nationally” adjusts for Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO prices. “Rent share” is the median Denver rent ($1,870/month) as a share of take-home.
| Salary | Federal | FICA | State + local | Take-home / yr | Per paycheck | Worth nationally | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $744 | $25,541 | $982 | $24,145 | 88% |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $1,712 | $40,643 | $1,563 | $38,422 | 55% |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $2,922 | $58,671 | $2,257 | $55,464 | 38% |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $4,132 | $75,048 | $2,886 | $70,946 | 30% |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $6,552 | $107,239 | $4,125 | $101,378 | 21% |
| $250,000 | $51,304 | $15,514 | $11,103 | $172,079 | $6,618 | $162,673 | 13% |
Take-home pay on typical Denver incomes
What common local incomes leave after 2026 federal, Colorado and payroll taxes.
| Income | Gross / yr | Taxes | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time minimum wage ($19.29/hr) | $40,123 | $6,938 | $33,185 | $2,765 |
| Median full-time worker | $79,282 | $17,806 | $61,476 | $5,123 |
| Median household (married, one earner) | $92,504 | $16,877 | $75,627 | $6,302 |
| Per-capita income (all residents) | $65,979 | Income per resident including children and retirees | ||
Housing costs vs take-home pay in Denver
- Rent: median gross rent is $1,870 a month ($22,440 a year) — 37% of a median full-time worker's take-home pay, above the common 30% affordability guideline. To keep rent at 30% of take-home you need about $95,618 gross a year.
- Home values: the median owner-occupied home is worth $636,400, 6.9× the median household income.
- Property tax: the median homeowner pays $3,071 a year, an effective rate of about 0.48% of home value — $256 a month on top of the mortgage.
What a Denver paycheck is worth
Prices in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO area are 5.8% above the US average (BEA regional price parity 105.8, 2024; housing 146.9). Adjusting take-home pay for local prices:
| Salary | Take-home in Denver | Worth at US-average prices |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,643 | $38,422 |
| $75,000 | $58,671 | $55,464 |
| $100,000 | $75,048 | $70,946 |
| $150,000 | $107,239 | $101,378 |
Denver vs other cities on $75,000
Denver next to the other Colorado cities we cover and the five cities where $75,000 goes about as far once taxes and local prices are counted ($55,464 in national prices here).
| City | Local income tax | Sales tax | Take-home | Price-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | None | 10.55% | $60,552 | $54,486 |
| Denver | None | 9.15% | $58,671 | $55,464 |
| Chicago, IL | None | 10.50% | $58,025 | $56,011 |
| Minneapolis, MN | None | 9.03% | $57,686 | $55,032 |
| Wilmington, DE | $938 | 0.00% | $56,746 | $55,333 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2,801 | 8.00% | $56,436 | $55,031 |
Sales tax in Denver
Denver's combined rate of 9.150% is above the Colorado average of 7.89%. A $1,000 purchase costs $1,091.50; if you spend $20,000 a year on taxable goods, that is about $1,830 in sales tax. Colorado sales tax calculator.
Colorado income tax rates for 2026
Single
| Taxable income over | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 | 4.40% |
Standard deduction $16,100
Married filing jointly
| Taxable income over | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 | 4.40% |
Standard deduction $32,200
Other Colorado payroll deductions
- FAMLI paid family & medical leave (employee share): 0.440% of wages up to $184,500
Key facts about Denver taxes
- Denver's general sales tax is 9.15%: 5.15% city, 2.9% Colorado, 1% RTD and 0.1% Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (Denver Treasury).
- Denver's Occupational Privilege Tax takes a flat $5.75 per month from employees, plus $4.00 per month from employers, instead of a percentage wage tax.
- Prepared food and drink is taxed at a 4% city rate, and lodging at 10.75% city (11.75% in the Tourism Improvement District).
- Median household income is $92,504 (ACS 2024 1-year).
More on Colorado brackets, deductions and federal withholding: Colorado (CO) paycheck calculator.
More Colorado calculators
- Colorado (CO) paycheck calculator
- Colorado income tax calculator
- Colorado sales tax calculator
- Denver paycheck calculator
- California vs Colorado taxes
- Colorado vs Texas taxes
- Arizona vs Colorado taxes
- Compare Colorado with any state
What this calculator simplifies
- Colorado makes high earners add back part of their federal deductions, and does not follow some federal deductions (for example qualified business income). These adjustments are not modeled.
- Any temporary TABOR-triggered rate cut or TABOR refund (sales tax refund) is not modeled.
- Pension and annuity subtractions for age 55+ and the Social Security subtraction are not modeled.
- Local occupational privilege taxes are flat monthly amounts and are not modeled.
Frequently asked questions
Does Denver have a city income tax?
No percentage income tax. Denver charges an Occupational Privilege Tax (head tax) of $5.75 per month withheld from employees, plus $4.00 per month paid by the employer, for people working in Denver who earn at least $500 in a month.
What is the sales tax in Denver?
The combined sales tax rate in Denver is 9.150%, including the Colorado state rate of 2.90% — $91.50 on a $1,000 purchase.
How much is $75,000 after taxes in Denver?
About $58,671 per year or $2,257 per bi-weekly paycheck for a single filer in 2026. Adjusted for local prices (Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO price level 105.8, US = 100) that buys what $55,464 would nationally.
What is the typical salary in Denver?
Median earnings for full-time, year-round workers in Denver are $79,282 (Census ACS). After 2026 taxes that leaves about $61,476 a year, or $5,123 a month.
What is the minimum wage in Denver?
$19.29 an hour. Denver citywide minimum wage, effective January 1, 2026 (rises to $19.84 in 2027); Colorado state rate is $15.16. Full-time that is $40,123 a year, or about $33,185 after tax.
How much is property tax in Denver?
The median homeowner in Denver pays $3,071 a year in real estate taxes on a median home value of $636,400 — an effective rate of about 0.48% (Census ACS).
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- City and County of Denver, Business Tax Information (rates and OPT)
- US Census Bureau ACS 2024 1-year via Census Reporter: population, home value, real estate taxes, gross rent, per capita income, full-time earnings (Denver, CO)
- Denver Labor (Auditor's Office), Citywide Minimum Wage
- US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by MSA (table MARPP), 2024 data released February 19, 2026
- BEA, Real Personal Income and Regional Price Parities methodology
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates (tables B01003/B01001, B25077, B25103, B25064, B19301, B20018)
- US Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (page updated July 1, 2026)
- Tax Foundation – 2026 State Income Tax Rates and Brackets
- Colorado FAMLI – Premiums
- Tax Foundation – State and Local Sales Tax Rates, Midyear 2026
- Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 inflation adjustments incl. OBBBA)
- IRS: Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026, including OBBBA amendments