High paying entry level jobs in Colorado

These occupations in Colorado ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average (2024), so a Colorado salary is worth about 0.97× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Colorado.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Colorado

OccupationMedian, Colorado · Employed

1Petroleum Engineers$172,190
Bachelor's degree
$92,590 – $264,9601,390
2Lawyers$168,520
Doctoral or professional degree
$83,350 – $336,97016,720
3Dentists, General$166,240
Doctoral or professional degree
$84,590 – $229,0702,940
4Aerospace Engineers$156,190
Bachelor's degree
$101,970 – $210,4104,070
5Computer Hardware Engineers$156,080
Bachelor's degree
$100,050 – $222,2202,660
6Pharmacists$156,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$120,410 – $188,4304,560
7Computer Occupations, All Other$139,580
Bachelor's degree
$76,140 – $170,80011,800
8Software Developers$138,390
Bachelor's degree
$96,480 – $213,01043,320
9Physician Assistants$134,540
Master's degree
$104,590 – $174,0903,270
10Nurse Practitioners$132,930
Master's degree
$87,770 – $170,3104,270
11Engineers, All Other$132,590
Bachelor's degree
$75,900 – $195,1902,540
12Veterinarians$130,840
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,710 – $211,9302,340
13Computer Systems Analysts$127,750
Bachelor's degree
$80,050 – $209,0906,230
14Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$127,010
Bachelor's degree
$84,510 – $191,1406,080
15Mechanical Engineers$124,430
Bachelor's degree
$75,100 – $170,8107,190
16Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$123,690
Bachelor's degree
$79,780 – $172,9305,110
17Electrical Engineers$120,760
Bachelor's degree
$81,720 – $177,3104,200
18Financial Risk Specialists$120,300
Bachelor's degree
$75,460 – $174,7701,050
19Database Administrators$118,340
Bachelor's degree
$61,930 – $164,7801,220
20Data Scientists$117,400
Bachelor's degree
$74,470 – $189,6306,280
21Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$114,410
Bachelor's degree
$70,410 – $210,0901,480
22Project Management Specialists$110,050
Bachelor's degree
$68,990 – $171,63032,390
23Industrial Engineers$109,750
Bachelor's degree
$80,480 – $159,9905,200
24Dental Hygienists$109,580
Associate's degree
$95,680 – $128,9004,270
25Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$108,410
Associate's degree
$85,500 – $130,7201,430
26Environmental Engineers$106,890
Bachelor's degree
$66,390 – $165,8701,320
27Occupational Therapists$106,720
Master's degree
$81,390 – $157,8203,390
28Atmospheric and Space Scientists$104,670
Bachelor's degree
$76,110 – $165,5001,150
29Computer Programmers$104,610
Bachelor's degree
$68,320 – $199,830930
30Physicists$104,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,340 – $210,9501,050
31Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$104,070
Doctoral or professional degree
$54,330 – $171,5201,100
32Financial and Investment Analysts$103,850
Bachelor's degree
$71,590 – $171,5708,040
33Network and Computer Systems Administrators$103,370
Bachelor's degree
$74,110 – $155,0508,360
34Physical Therapists$102,030
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,460 – $132,0105,630
35Chemists$101,980
Bachelor's degree
$61,260 – $162,6801,790
36Civil Engineers$101,420
Bachelor's degree
$76,810 – $165,23013,290
37Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$101,400
Bachelor's degree
$64,140 – $153,0303,080
38Urban and Regional Planners$101,340
Master's degree
$69,670 – $140,7501,300
39Registered Nurses$100,260
Bachelor's degree
$79,500 – $124,94054,490
40Budget Analysts$97,100
Bachelor's degree
$70,660 – $130,1801,290
41Accountants and Auditors$97,030
Bachelor's degree
$60,760 – $162,16035,410
42Logisticians$96,090
Bachelor's degree
$63,060 – $145,3504,490
43Web and Digital Interface Designers$95,880
Bachelor's degree
$60,620 – $169,0503,250
44Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$93,050
Bachelor's degree
$48,900 – $165,19027,880
45Business Operations Specialists, All Other$92,520
Bachelor's degree
$55,850 – $153,83045,670
46Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$87,760
Associate's degree
$63,270 – $111,7303,960
47Financial Specialists, All Other$87,430
Bachelor's degree
$60,300 – $140,6104,030
48Cartographers and Photogrammetrists$86,960
Bachelor's degree
$61,060 – $130,3101,220
49Respiratory Therapists$86,220
Associate's degree
$66,560 – $109,0702,110
50Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$85,990
Bachelor's degree
$65,260 – $140,3402,580

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianColorado	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Petroleum EngineersBachelor's degree	$172,190	$92,590 – $264,960	1,390
2	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$168,520	$83,350 – $336,970	16,720
3	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$166,240	$84,590 – $229,070	2,940
4	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$156,190	$101,970 – $210,410	4,070
5	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$156,080	$100,050 – $222,220	2,660
6	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$156,030	$120,410 – $188,430	4,560
7	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$139,580	$76,140 – $170,800	11,800
8	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$138,390	$96,480 – $213,010	43,320
9	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$134,540	$104,590 – $174,090	3,270
10	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$132,930	$87,770 – $170,310	4,270
11	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$132,590	$75,900 – $195,190	2,540
12	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$130,840	$77,710 – $211,930	2,340
13	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$127,750	$80,050 – $209,090	6,230
14	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$127,010	$84,510 – $191,140	6,080
15	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$124,430	$75,100 – $170,810	7,190
16	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$123,690	$79,780 – $172,930	5,110
17	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$120,760	$81,720 – $177,310	4,200
18	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$120,300	$75,460 – $174,770	1,050
19	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$118,340	$61,930 – $164,780	1,220
20	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$117,400	$74,470 – $189,630	6,280
21	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersBachelor's degree	$114,410	$70,410 – $210,090	1,480
22	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$110,050	$68,990 – $171,630	32,390
23	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$109,750	$80,480 – $159,990	5,200
24	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$109,580	$95,680 – $128,900	4,270
25	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$108,410	$85,500 – $130,720	1,430
26	Environmental EngineersBachelor's degree	$106,890	$66,390 – $165,870	1,320
27	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$106,720	$81,390 – $157,820	3,390
28	Atmospheric and Space ScientistsBachelor's degree	$104,670	$76,110 – $165,500	1,150
29	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$104,610	$68,320 – $199,830	930
30	PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$104,580	$82,340 – $210,950	1,050
31	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$104,070	$54,330 – $171,520	1,100
32	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$103,850	$71,590 – $171,570	8,040
33	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$103,370	$74,110 – $155,050	8,360
34	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,030	$76,460 – $132,010	5,630
35	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$101,980	$61,260 – $162,680	1,790
36	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,420	$76,810 – $165,230	13,290
37	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$101,400	$64,140 – $153,030	3,080
38	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$101,340	$69,670 – $140,750	1,300
39	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$100,260	$79,500 – $124,940	54,490
40	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$97,100	$70,660 – $130,180	1,290
41	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$97,030	$60,760 – $162,160	35,410
42	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$96,090	$63,060 – $145,350	4,490
43	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$95,880	$60,620 – $169,050	3,250
44	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$93,050	$48,900 – $165,190	27,880
45	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$92,520	$55,850 – $153,830	45,670
46	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$87,760	$63,270 – $111,730	3,960
47	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$87,430	$60,300 – $140,610	4,030
48	Cartographers and PhotogrammetristsBachelor's degree	$86,960	$61,060 – $130,310	1,220
49	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$86,220	$66,560 – $109,070	2,110
50	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$85,990	$65,260 – $140,340	2,580

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Colorado. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Colorado

Metro areas in Colorado

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Colorado

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Colorado to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Colorado

More for Colorado

Metro areas in Colorado

By field in Colorado

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state