Highest paying jobs in Boulder, CO
The best paying occupations in the Boulder, CO metro area, ranked by median annual wage. Metro wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure that too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.
Cost of living: prices here run 5.2% above the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianBoulder, CO | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Surgeons, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $465,940 | $215,640 – $517,850 | 50 |
| 2 | Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $453,460 | $173,990 – $474,550 | 110 |
| 3 | Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $297,070 | $99,570 – $357,220 | 230 |
| 4 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $216,400 | $167,940 – $322,220 | 110 |
| 5 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except PediatricDoctoral or professional degree | $211,600 | $180,610 – $623,890 | 130 |
| 6 | Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree | $210,340 | $128,020 – $316,640 | 310 |
| 7 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $206,260 | $132,210 – $314,480 | 1,220 |
| 8 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $203,420 | $146,600 – $268,670 | 680 |
| 9 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $200,970 | $123,240 – $329,830 | 740 |
| 10 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $199,570 | $127,620 – $308,050 | 630 |
| 11 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $192,970 | $120,650 – $393,650 | 700 |
| 12 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $180,440 | $86,480 – $224,410 | 140 |
| 13 | Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $179,090 | $110,590 – $287,370 | 1,020 |
| 14 | Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree | $172,640 | $103,570 – $268,730 | 40 |
| 15 | Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree | $169,400 | $121,850 – $215,090 | 90 |
| 16 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $169,000 | $104,900 – $304,440 | 260 |
| 17 | Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree | $167,160 | $103,320 – $210,410 | 800 |
| 18 | Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award | $165,780 | $32,140 – $250,680 | 40 |
| 19 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $164,560 | $102,880 – $235,660 | 7,130 |
| 20 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $164,240 | $133,200 – $187,680 | 250 |
| 21 | Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree | $162,040 | $95,040 – $233,670 | 230 |
| 22 | Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree | $161,720 | $100,390 – $216,650 | 650 |
| 23 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $160,290 | $128,650 – $245,870 | 90 |
| 24 | Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $156,360 | $106,470 – $216,210 | 2,000 |
| 25 | Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree | $155,030 | $75,780 – $199,830 | — |
| 26 | Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree | $154,990 | $100,710 – $214,290 | 520 |
| 27 | OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree | $153,500 | $85,160 – $214,820 | 60 |
| 28 | Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree | $153,370 | $78,740 – $270,280 | 140 |
| 29 | General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree | $152,100 | $70,760 – $344,870 | 2,750 |
| 30 | Materials EngineersBachelor's degree | $151,940 | $99,880 – $200,310 | 210 |
| 31 | Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree | $147,590 | $79,810 – $207,810 | 1,120 |
| 32 | StatisticiansMaster's degree | $144,990 | $79,310 – $180,500 | 100 |
| 33 | School PsychologistsMaster's degree | $143,020 | $107,800 – $170,600 | 110 |
| 34 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $142,270 | $99,880 – $218,210 | 150 |
| 35 | Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree | $141,320 | $97,200 – $195,190 | — |
| 36 | Biochemists and BiophysicistsDoctoral or professional degree | $140,710 | $84,210 – $219,170 | 390 |
| 37 | Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree | $139,900 | $75,850 – $209,470 | 360 |
| 38 | Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $139,160 | $101,720 – $227,570 | 150 |
| 39 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $138,820 | $74,510 – $175,700 | 300 |
| 40 | Sales EngineersBachelor's degree | $138,720 | $79,330 – $210,000 | 350 |
| 41 | Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $138,150 | $83,600 – $296,740 | 510 |
| 42 | Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree | $137,530 | $85,030 – $211,080 | 580 |
| 43 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $136,540 | $114,090 – $179,920 | 270 |
| 44 | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree | $136,410 | $84,450 – $194,110 | 500 |
| 45 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $136,380 | $65,990 – $212,280 | 730 |
| 46 | Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree | $136,330 | $106,330 – $167,220 | 360 |
| 47 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree | $136,180 | $74,800 – $216,540 | 300 |
| 48 | Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree | $134,890 | $52,280 – $185,100 | 90 |
| 49 | Data ScientistsBachelor's degree | $134,040 | $74,640 – $222,940 | 540 |
| 50 | Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree | $132,750 | $80,070 – $211,300 | — |