Jobs that actually got a raise in Colorado

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Waiters and Waitresses$44,860
No formal educational credential
$30,800 – $78,160+61.0%+102.8% nominal
2Bartenders$38,170
No formal educational credential
$30,800 – $94,880+37.0%+72.5% nominal
3Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$307,490
Bachelor's degree
$189,150 – $377,860+34.1%+68.8% nominal
4Sales and Related Workers, All Other$60,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $103,940+32.9%+67.4% nominal
5Driver/Sales Workers$43,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,800 – $57,960+32.7%+67.1% nominal
6Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials$44,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,790 – $68,420+32.6%+67.0% nominal
7Cooks, Short Order$42,450
No formal educational credential
$32,030 – $64,840+31.8%+65.9% nominal
8Commercial Pilots$139,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,780 – $269,630+29.5%+63.0% nominal
9Helpers--Production Workers$45,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,810 – $54,910+29.1%+62.6% nominal
10Coaches and Scouts$47,110
Bachelor's degree
$31,990 – $86,950+27.2%+60.2% nominal
11Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$38,380
No formal educational credential
$31,090 – $39,110+27.2%+60.2% nominal
12Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$63,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,870 – $71,090+26.3%+59.0% nominal
13Packers and Packagers, Hand$40,730
No formal educational credential
$35,510 – $50,310+26.2%+58.9% nominal
14Loan Officers$94,520
Bachelor's degree
$39,430 – $165,370+25.0%+57.4% nominal
15Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$36,790
No formal educational credential
$30,800 – $56,890+23.9%+56.0% nominal
16Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$38,900
No formal educational credential
$31,860 – $51,440+21.9%+53.5% nominal
17Production Workers, All Other$47,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,700 – $63,570+21.5%+53.0% nominal
18Tree Trimmers and Pruners$51,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $61,660+20.4%+51.6% nominal
19Sewing Machine Operators$43,840
No formal educational credential
$35,250 – $55,050+20.0%+51.1% nominal
20Tire Repairers and Changers$45,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,600 – $56,580+19.7%+50.8% nominal
21Dishwashers$37,840
No formal educational credential
$30,900 – $45,340+19.7%+50.8% nominal
22Tour and Travel Guides$42,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,380 – $55,600+19.5%+50.4% nominal
23Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$102,400
Bachelor's degree
$67,990 – $170,040+18.9%+49.7% nominal
24Advertising Sales Agents$73,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,160 – $164,930+18.8%+49.6% nominal
25Veterinarians$130,840
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,710 – $211,930+18.7%+49.4% nominal
26Parking Attendants$39,330
No formal educational credential
$35,670 – $48,860+18.4%+49.1% nominal
27Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$37,680
No formal educational credential
$32,700 – $46,450+18.0%+48.6% nominal
28Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$35,710
No formal educational credential
$31,380 – $47,360+18.0%+48.6% nominal
29Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$36,340
No formal educational credential
$30,800 – $55,660+17.5%+48.0% nominal
30Interior Designers$78,390
Bachelor's degree
$48,830 – $133,810+17.5%+47.9% nominal
31Fast Food and Counter Workers$36,270
No formal educational credential
$31,040 – $44,100+17.4%+47.8% nominal
32Home Health and Personal Care Aides$38,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,420 – $46,630+17.3%+47.8% nominal
33Photographers$47,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,440 – $92,200+16.4%+46.6% nominal
34Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$47,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,570 – $63,130+15.9%+46.0% nominal
35Animal Caretakers$37,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,070 – $55,300+15.9%+45.9% nominal
36Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$35,640
No formal educational credential
$31,870 – $43,280+15.8%+45.9% nominal
37Security Guards$45,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,160 – $57,360+15.7%+45.7% nominal
38Cashiers$36,870
No formal educational credential
$31,490 – $47,000+15.5%+45.4% nominal
39Food Preparation Workers$38,960
No formal educational credential
$30,800 – $49,000+15.1%+44.9% nominal
40Cooks, Fast Food$36,900
No formal educational credential
$31,970 – $46,610+14.6%+44.3% nominal
41Amusement and Recreation Attendants$35,770
No formal educational credential
$30,880 – $46,950+14.5%+44.2% nominal
42Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$46,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,370 – $61,170+14.2%+43.9% nominal
43Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$45,500
Associate's degree
$35,820 – $84,700+13.9%+43.4% nominal
44Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$53,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,430 – $67,080+13.8%+43.3% nominal
45Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$50,390
No formal educational credential
$47,520 – $57,280+13.7%+43.2% nominal
46Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$46,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,270 – $73,980+13.7%+43.2% nominal
47Food Batchmakers$44,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,820 – $61,130+13.6%+43.0% nominal
48Tellers$46,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,730 – $56,060+13.5%+42.9% nominal
49Cooks, Restaurant$41,600
No formal educational credential
$34,590 – $49,650+13.5%+43.0% nominal
50Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$42,500
No formal educational credential
$36,290 – $50,990+13.3%+42.6% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$44,860	$30,800 – $78,160	+61.0%+102.8% nominal
2	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$38,170	$30,800 – $94,880	+37.0%+72.5% nominal
3	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$307,490	$189,150 – $377,860	+34.1%+68.8% nominal
4	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,670	$39,110 – $103,940	+32.9%+67.4% nominal
5	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,420	$30,800 – $57,960	+32.7%+67.1% nominal
6	Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports OfficialsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,230	$32,790 – $68,420	+32.6%+67.0% nominal
7	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$42,450	$32,030 – $64,840	+31.8%+65.9% nominal
8	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$139,680	$59,780 – $269,630	+29.5%+63.0% nominal
9	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,550	$35,810 – $54,910	+29.1%+62.6% nominal
10	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$47,110	$31,990 – $86,950	+27.2%+60.2% nominal
11	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$38,380	$31,090 – $39,110	+27.2%+60.2% nominal
12	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,010	$50,870 – $71,090	+26.3%+59.0% nominal
13	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$40,730	$35,510 – $50,310	+26.2%+58.9% nominal
14	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$94,520	$39,430 – $165,370	+25.0%+57.4% nominal
15	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$36,790	$30,800 – $56,890	+23.9%+56.0% nominal
16	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$38,900	$31,860 – $51,440	+21.9%+53.5% nominal
17	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,200	$38,700 – $63,570	+21.5%+53.0% nominal
18	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,390	$47,600 – $61,660	+20.4%+51.6% nominal
19	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$43,840	$35,250 – $55,050	+20.0%+51.1% nominal
20	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,380	$36,600 – $56,580	+19.7%+50.8% nominal
21	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$37,840	$30,900 – $45,340	+19.7%+50.8% nominal
22	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,840	$31,380 – $55,600	+19.5%+50.4% nominal
23	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$102,400	$67,990 – $170,040	+18.9%+49.7% nominal
24	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,420	$38,160 – $164,930	+18.8%+49.6% nominal
25	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$130,840	$77,710 – $211,930	+18.7%+49.4% nominal
26	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$39,330	$35,670 – $48,860	+18.4%+49.1% nominal
27	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$37,680	$32,700 – $46,450	+18.0%+48.6% nominal
28	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$35,710	$31,380 – $47,360	+18.0%+48.6% nominal
29	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopNo formal educational credential	$36,340	$30,800 – $55,660	+17.5%+48.0% nominal
30	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$78,390	$48,830 – $133,810	+17.5%+47.9% nominal
31	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$36,270	$31,040 – $44,100	+17.4%+47.8% nominal
32	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,540	$35,420 – $46,630	+17.3%+47.8% nominal
33	PhotographersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,070	$36,440 – $92,200	+16.4%+46.6% nominal
34	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,330	$38,570 – $63,130	+15.9%+46.0% nominal
35	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,430	$32,070 – $55,300	+15.9%+45.9% nominal
36	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,640	$31,870 – $43,280	+15.8%+45.9% nominal
37	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,150	$36,160 – $57,360	+15.7%+45.7% nominal
38	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$36,870	$31,490 – $47,000	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
39	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$38,960	$30,800 – $49,000	+15.1%+44.9% nominal
40	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$36,900	$31,970 – $46,610	+14.6%+44.3% nominal
41	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$35,770	$30,880 – $46,950	+14.5%+44.2% nominal
42	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,150	$37,370 – $61,170	+14.2%+43.9% nominal
43	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$45,500	$35,820 – $84,700	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
44	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,460	$37,430 – $67,080	+13.8%+43.3% nominal
45	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$50,390	$47,520 – $57,280	+13.7%+43.2% nominal
46	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,010	$35,270 – $73,980	+13.7%+43.2% nominal
47	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,900	$36,820 – $61,130	+13.6%+43.0% nominal
48	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,060	$37,730 – $56,060	+13.5%+42.9% nominal
49	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$41,600	$34,590 – $49,650	+13.5%+43.0% nominal
50	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$42,500	$36,290 – $50,990	+13.3%+42.6% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Colorado

More for Colorado

Metro areas in Colorado

By field in Colorado

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state