Colorado Springs Take-Home Pay Calculator
Estimate your net salary in Colorado Springs after federal taxes, Colorado's flat 4.4% state income tax, FICA, and FAMLI. Colorado Springs has no city income tax or Occupational Privilege Tax.
Colorado Springs Take-Home Pay
USA · CO · Colorado Springs2026 estimate: federal brackets, CO 4.4% flat, FAMLI 0.44%, FICA. No city-level tax.
Results
Gross income Annual gross pay |
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), TSP, health, HSA, etc. |
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Taxable wages (after pre-tax) |
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Federal income tax (estimate) Taxable: — · Std. deduction: — |
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Colorado state tax (4.4% flat) Taxable: — |
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Social Security 6.2% up to — |
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Medicare 1.45% of wages |
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CO FAMLI (paid leave) 0.44% employee share |
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| Total taxes & withholding | — |
Estimated take-home Shown per year |
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Take-Home Pay in Colorado Springs: The Affordability Advantage on the Front Range
Colorado Springs carries the same state-level tax burden as Denver — flat 4.4% + FAMLI — but without any city occupational privilege tax. Combined with 1-BR rent averaging ~$1,300/month (roughly $400 less than Denver), that translates into significantly more purchasing power per dollar earned. This section explains how the deduction stack works at typical Colorado Springs salary levels and what it means for budgeting, relocation decisions, and career comparisons.
Every line item on a Colorado Springs paycheck
| Item | What it is | 2026 rate |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | Progressive tax on income above the standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married). At the local median household income of ~$83K, a single filer lands in the 22% federal bracket with an effective federal rate near 10%. | 10%–37% |
| Colorado state tax | Flat 4.4% on federal taxable income. Identical rate whether you earn $40K or $400K. No separate state standard deduction — Colorado uses your federal taxable income directly. | 4.4% flat |
| Social Security | 6.2% on wages up to $184,500. At the median CS salary, all income is subject. Defense contractors earning $150K+ approach the cap where this tax starts to phase out proportionally. | 6.2% up to $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45% on all wages, no cap. Additional 0.9% kicks in above $200K (single) / $250K (married). | 1.45% (+0.9% high earners) |
| CO FAMLI | 0.44% employee share on wages up to the $184,500 SS cap. Post-tax — does not reduce taxable income. Federal employees and active-duty military are generally exempt from FAMLI. | 0.44% employee |
| Local tax | None. Colorado Springs does not levy an occupational privilege tax, city income tax, or any other payroll-based local tax. This is a concrete advantage over Denver ($69/year OPT) and other CO cities with OPT. | $0 |
Take-home formula (Colorado Springs)
COS vs. Denver: the real gap isn't taxes
At $83,000 gross (single filer, no deductions):
| Item | CO Springs | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Federal tax | $7,620 | $7,620 |
| CO state tax | $2,944 | $2,944 |
| FICA + FAMLI | $6,712 | $6,712 |
| Denver OPT | $0 | $69 |
| Take-home | $65,724 | $65,655 |
The tax difference is $69/year — less than $6/month. The real financial gap is cost of living: average 1-BR rent in Colorado Springs runs ~$1,300 vs. ~$1,700 in Denver. That $400/month housing savings ($4,800/year) is 70× larger than the OPT difference. When evaluating a job offer, focus on salary levels and housing costs, not the city tax line.
Military economy: FAMLI exemption note
Colorado Springs salary scenarios (2026, single filer, no pre-tax deductions)
Four income levels reflecting the local economy — from entry-level service roles through senior defense/tech positions. No local tax applies.
| Component | $42,000 | $68,000 | $105,000 | $155,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal taxable income | $25,900 | $51,900 | $88,900 | $138,900 |
| Federal income tax | $2,868 | $6,146 | $12,674 | $21,970 |
| CO state tax (4.4%) | $1,140 | $2,284 | $3,912 | $6,112 |
| Social Security | $2,604 | $4,216 | $6,510 | $9,610 |
| Medicare | $609 | $986 | $1,523 | $2,248 |
| FAMLI (0.44%) | $185 | $299 | $462 | $682 |
| Total deductions | $7,406 | $13,931 | $25,081 | $40,622 |
| Annual take-home | $34,594 | $54,069 | $79,919 | $114,378 |
| Monthly take-home | $2,883 | $4,506 | $6,660 | $9,532 |
| Effective total rate | 17.6% | 20.5% | 23.9% | 26.2% |
Monthly take-home of $2,883 leaves ~$1,583 after a $1,300 1-BR rent. In Colorado Springs, that's workable for basic expenses — unlike Denver, where the same salary faces $400/month higher rent. The affordability gap is felt most acutely at this income level.
Close to Colorado Springs' average individual salary. At $4,506/month take-home, spending 30% on housing means $1,352/month — comfortably covering the average 1-BR. This earner sits just above the 12%→22% federal bracket edge (~$66.5K taxable). A modest $3,000 401(k) keeps the federal marginal rate at 12%.
Typical for mid-career defense contractors, cybersecurity analysts, or senior military civilian positions (GS-13 equivalent). At $6,660/month, the 30% housing budget ($1,998) opens up 2-BR apartments or mortgage payments on the median home (~$440K). Maxing TSP/401(k) at $23,500 saves ~$5,792 in combined federal+state tax.
At $9,532/month, Colorado Springs is remarkably affordable: housing represents under 14% of take-home at average 1-BR rent. The 24% federal marginal bracket applies to ~$33K of income. Ample room to maximize retirement contributions, HSA ($4,400 in 2026), and still maintain 50%+ discretionary income after housing.
Housing affordability: Colorado Springs by the take-home numbers
Applying the 30% of take-home rule (more realistic than 30% of gross) to Colorado Springs rents:
| Gross salary | Monthly take-home | 30% of take-home | Affordable unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| $42,000 | $2,883 | $865 | Studio (affordable area) |
| $55,000 | $3,631 | $1,089 | Studio / shared 2-BR |
| $68,000 | $4,506 | $1,352 | 1-BR (avg. COS) |
| $83,000 | $5,479 | $1,644 | 1-BR (premium) / 2-BR |
| $105,000 | $6,660 | $1,998 | 2-BR / starter mortgage |
Colorado Springs' median household income (~$83K) puts 30% of take-home at $1,644 — well above the average 1-BR rent of $1,300. Compare to Denver, where median income of $92K barely covers the average 1-BR at 30% of take-home. This gap makes Colorado Springs one of the most financially comfortable cities on the Front Range for mid-income earners.
Profession salaries in Colorado Springs (2026, single filer)
| Profession | Typical salary | Take-home | Monthly net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer (mid) | $110,000 | ~$83,610 | $6,968 |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | $98,000 | ~$75,370 | $6,281 |
| Registered Nurse | $74,000 | ~$58,580 | $4,882 |
| Teacher (D11 mid-career) | $52,000 | ~$42,024 | $3,502 |
| Military E-6 (w/ BAH) | ~$62,000* | ~$51,400* | ~$4,283* |
*Military pay is complex: Basic Pay is subject to federal tax, but BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) and BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) are tax-free. An E-6 with 8 years at Fort Carson receives ~$3,800/month Basic Pay + ~$1,800/month BAH (COS rate). Only Basic Pay flows through the calculator's tax logic. BAH adds ~$21,600/year in tax-free income — a significant boost that generic calculators miss.
Software engineers in Colorado Springs typically earn $15K–$25K less than Denver peers, but lower housing cost ($4,800+/year savings) narrows the real gap. A COS engineer at $110K takes home $6,968/month and spends ~$1,300 on a 1-BR — leaving $5,668 for everything else. A Denver engineer at $130K takes home $8,157 but spends ~$1,700 on comparable housing — leaving $6,457. The "lifestyle surplus" gap ($789/month) is much smaller than the $20K salary gap suggests.
Married filing jointly vs. Single in Colorado Springs: dual-income household at $148K combined
Colorado Springs has a high proportion of dual-income military/civilian households. Here's how filing jointly affects a couple earning $83K + $65K ($148K combined) vs. filing two separate single returns:
| Component | 2× Single returns | Married filing jointly | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $16,100 + $16,100 | $32,200 | $0 |
| Federal tax (combined) | $17,862 | $13,690 | $4,172 |
| CO state tax | $5,094 | $5,094 | $0 |
| FICA + FAMLI | $12,003 | $12,003 | $0 |
| Total tax | $34,959 | $30,787 | $4,172 |
| Combined take-home | $113,041 | $117,213 | $4,172/yr |
The $4,172 annual savings comes entirely from wider federal married brackets — the 22% bracket extends to $100,800 for married filers vs. $50,400 for single. Colorado's flat 4.4% is unaffected by filing status (the same federal taxable income generates the same state tax). FICA is individual-based and doesn't change with filing status. For a dual-military household where one spouse earns tax-free BAH, the married filing jointly advantage can be even larger because the taxable income is lower relative to total household cash flow.
Common mistakes and edge cases for Colorado Springs earners
Some generic "Colorado calculators" add the Denver OPT by default. Colorado Springs has never levied an OPT or city income tax. If a calculator shows a "local tax" line for COS, it's wrong. The only local-level tax you pay is sales tax (8.20% combined), which doesn't affect paycheck withholding.
Active-duty military personnel are not covered by Colorado FAMLI. Federal civilian employees may be exempt if their agency provides equivalent leave benefits. This is significant in Colorado Springs, where military and federal employment account for a large share of the workforce. If exempt, remove 0.44% from your estimate — that's $365/year on a $83K salary.
Military BAH is tax-free but real income. The 2025 COS BAH rate for E-5 with dependents is ~$1,800/month (~$21,600/year). When comparing a military E-5 to a civilian earning $62K, the military member's effective spendable income is closer to $73K+ because BAH isn't taxed — no federal, no state, no FICA.
The 4.25% rate applied only to tax year 2024 under a TABOR excess-revenue mechanism. For 2025 and 2026, the rate is 4.4%. At $83K, this $0.0015 difference costs ~$100/year — small but it compounds across multi-year planning.
Colorado Springs has a high proportion of dual-income military/civilian households. Filing jointly with $83K + $65K saves ~$4,172/year in federal tax vs. two single returns — primarily through wider brackets and the doubled standard deduction. The CO flat rate doesn't change, but the lower federal taxable base cascades into state savings too.