Paycheck Calculator Denver (Colorado) Estimate Your Take-Home Pay
Estimate your net salary in Denver after federal taxes, Colorado's flat 4.4% state income tax, FICA, FAMLI paid leave premium, and Denver's Occupational Privilege Tax ($5.75/month).
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USA · CO · Denver2026 estimate: federal brackets, CO 4.4% flat, FAMLI 0.44%, Denver OPT $5.75/mo, FICA.
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Gross income
Annual gross pay
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Pre-tax deductions
401(k), pre-tax 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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Denver OPT
$5.75/month flat
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| Total taxes & withholding | — |
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Estimated take-home
Shown per year
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Take-Home Pay in Denver: What the Numbers Actually Mean for Your Budget
Denver workers face a specific deduction stack — federal progressive brackets, Colorado's flat 4.4%, the FAMLI paid leave premium, FICA, and the city's own Occupational Privilege Tax. Understanding how these layers interact at Denver salary levels helps you budget realistically in a city where median rent runs $1,700+/month for a one-bedroom.
Every line item on a Denver paycheck
| Item | What it is | 2026 rate / amount |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | Progressive tax on income above the standard deduction ($16,100 single / $32,200 married). Colorado's state tax starts from this same federal taxable income, so one deduction effectively reduces two tax bills. | 10%–37% |
| Colorado state tax | Flat 4.4% on federal taxable income. No separate state standard deduction. The simplicity is a planning advantage: every $1,000 in pre-tax contributions saves exactly $44 in CO tax, regardless of income level. | 4.4% flat |
| Denver OPT | Flat $5.75/month deducted from employees who perform work within Denver city limits and earn $500+/month. The employer also pays $4.00/month per taxable employee. Not income-proportional — same amount whether you earn $40K or $400K. | $5.75/month ($69/year) |
| Social Security | 6.2% on wages up to $184,500 (2026 cap). At Denver's median household income of ~$92K, virtually all earnings are subject. Maximum employee contribution: $11,439/year. | 6.2% up to $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45% on all wages with no cap, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax on wages over $200K (single) / $250K (married). Denver's tech sector salaries often cross the $200K threshold where this add-on kicks in. | 1.45% (+0.9% above threshold) |
| CO FAMLI | Paid family/medical leave insurance. 0.88% total, split 50/50: employee pays 0.44% on wages up to the $184,500 SS cap. This is a post-tax deduction — it does not reduce taxable income. | 0.44% employee |
Denver take-home formula
Denver OPT: small tax, common confusion
The Occupational Privilege Tax is Denver's only city-level payroll tax. It's flat — not proportional to income — which makes it regressive in percentage terms: $69/year is 0.09% of a $75K salary but 0.02% of a $300K salary.
- Who pays: Any employee earning $500+ in a calendar month working within Denver city limits. Where you live doesn't matter — where you work does.
- Remote workers: If you live in Denver but work remotely for a company in Colorado Springs, you typically don't owe Denver OPT. If you work remotely for a Denver-based company from your Denver home, you do.
- Multiple employers: You pay OPT once. Submit Form TD269 to secondary employers to avoid double withholding.
- Aurora eliminated its OPT as of January 2025. Glendale ($5/month) and Greenwood Village ($4/month) still levy their own.
Denver vs. Colorado Springs: tax comparison at $92K (single)
- Federal tax: identical ($8,584)
- CO state tax: identical ($3,340)
- FICA + FAMLI: identical ($7,456)
- Denver OPT: $69 vs. $0
- Total difference: $69/year ($5.75/month)
Denver salary scenarios: from entry-level to senior tech (2026, single filer, no pre-tax deductions)
These four income levels represent common Denver salary bands — from service-sector entry positions through senior tech roles. Denver OPT ($69/yr) is included in all scenarios.
| Component | $45,000 | $75,000 | $130,000 | $210,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal std. deduction | $16,100 | $16,100 | $16,100 | $16,100 |
| Federal taxable income | $28,900 | $58,900 | $113,900 | $193,900 |
| Federal income tax | $3,228 | $6,816 | $16,524 | $38,312 |
| CO state tax (4.4%) | $1,272 | $2,592 | $5,012 | $8,532 |
| Social Security | $2,790 | $4,650 | $8,060 | $11,439 |
| Medicare | $653 | $1,088 | $1,885 | $3,135 |
| FAMLI (0.44%) | $198 | $330 | $572 | $812 |
| Denver OPT | $69 | $69 | $69 | $69 |
| Total deductions | $8,210 | $15,545 | $32,122 | $62,299 |
| Annual take-home | $36,790 | $59,455 | $97,878 | $147,701 |
| Monthly take-home | $3,066 | $4,955 | $8,157 | $12,308 |
| Effective total rate | 18.2% | 20.7% | 24.7% | 29.7% |
Monthly take-home of $3,066 leaves roughly $1,366/month after a typical Denver 1-BR rent ($1,700). That's tight for groceries, transport, and utilities (~$1,100/month combined). At this level, a $3,000 401(k) contribution saves ~$480 in taxes but reduces already-strained cash flow. The trade-off requires careful budgeting.
The sweet spot for Denver's cost of living. At $4,955/month take-home, spending 30% on housing ($1,487) is achievable even in mid-tier neighborhoods like Capitol Hill or Highlands. The 12→22% federal bracket jump happens around $66.5K taxable income — contributing to a 401(k) that keeps you below this threshold saves 10 cents on every marginal dollar federally.
At $8,157/month, Denver's housing market opens up comfortably. The 24% federal marginal rate applies to ~$8,200 of taxable income. Maxing a 401(k) ($23,500) would save ~$6,551 in combined federal + CO tax, dropping the effective rate from 24.7% to roughly 22.0%.
Crosses the $200K Additional Medicare Tax threshold: an extra 0.9% applies to $10,000 of wages ($90/year). Also exceeds the SS wage base ($184,500), so SS tax is capped at $11,439. The jump from $184.5K to $210K has a lower marginal payroll burden than mid-range income, but federal+state on the top slice is 36.4%.
Denver housing affordability vs. take-home: the 30% rule reality check
Financial guidance typically recommends spending no more than 30% of gross income on rent. But taxes reduce what you actually have. Here's how the 30% rule translates when applied to take-home pay instead of gross — a more realistic planning metric for Denver renters:
| Gross salary | Monthly take-home | 30% of take-home | Can afford |
|---|---|---|---|
| $55,000 | $3,631 | $1,089 | Studio / roommate |
| $75,000 | $4,955 | $1,487 | 1-BR (affordable area) |
| $92,000 | $6,002 | $1,801 | 1-BR (avg. Denver) |
| $120,000 | $7,502 | $2,251 | 2-BR / premium 1-BR |
Denver's median household income of ~$92K (Census 2023) lands a single filer at roughly $6,000/month take-home — just enough to afford the average 1-bedroom at $1,700 under the 30% take-home rule. Earners below $75K face a structural squeeze: they either spend 35%+ of take-home on rent or push into more affordable neighborhoods like Montbello, Westwood, or Far Northeast Denver, where 1-BR rents can drop below $1,300.
Denver profession salaries: what you actually keep (2026, single filer)
Typical Denver salary ranges by profession, with estimated annual take-home. All figures include Denver OPT and no pre-tax deductions:
| Profession | Typical salary | Take-home | Monthly net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer (mid) | $130,000 | ~$97,878 | $8,157 |
| Registered Nurse | $82,000 | ~$64,572 | $5,381 |
| Teacher (DPS mid-career) | $58,000 | ~$46,688 | $3,891 |
| Accountant | $72,000 | ~$57,188 | $4,766 |
A Denver teacher at $58K takes home $3,891/month — leaving $2,191 after a $1,700 1-BR rent. With $1,100+ in typical monthly expenses (transport, groceries, utilities, insurance), the remaining $1,091 covers discretionary spending and savings. A $5,000/year 401(k) contribution would reduce take-home by ~$350/month but save ~$1,320/year in combined taxes, building $50K+ in retirement savings over a decade.
Denver-specific mistakes and edge cases
Denver does not levy a percentage-based city income tax. The OPT is flat ($5.75/month). People relocating from cities like New York City (3.876%+) or Philadelphia (3.75%) sometimes overestimate Denver's local tax burden. The reality: Denver's local tax impact is $69/year vs. thousands in cities with proportional municipal taxes.
FAMLI premiums started in 2023, and benefits launched in 2024. At $92K salary, the employee share is $405/year ($34/month). It doesn't reduce your taxable income (it's post-tax), and FAMLI benefits received are reported on IRS Form 1099-G. If you receive FAMLI benefits, you may owe federal tax on them.
The $5.75/month employee OPT is owed only once, even with multiple Denver employers. If you switch jobs mid-year, submit Form TD269 to your secondary employer to prevent double withholding. Both employers still owe the $4.00/month business OPT independently.
Colorado's TABOR-triggered excess revenue refund dropped the effective rate to 4.25% for the 2024 tax year only. The rate reverted to 4.4% for 2025 and remains at 4.4% for 2026. On a $92K salary, this difference is ~$118/year — not massive, but it skews estimates if the wrong rate is used.
If you itemize deductions on your federal return and claim a SALT deduction for Colorado income tax paid, Colorado requires you to add that amount back to your state taxable income. Denver homeowners who itemize for mortgage interest and property tax often miss this add-back, underestimating CO tax by $200–$1,000+.