Elementary School Teacher Salary: Denver, CO vs Seattle, WA
BLS reports this occupation as "Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education" (25-2021); every figure on this page is for that BLS occupation.
Side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels for Elementary School Teachers in Denver, CO and Seattle, WA, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data and BEA regional price parities for 2024.
1Which City Pays More?
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Seattle, WA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $76,910 | $102,920▲ | -$26,010 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,220 | $81,390▲ | -$20,170 |
| 75th Percentile | $84,170 | $126,640▲ | -$42,470 |
| 90th Percentile | $101,440 | $131,990▲ | -$30,550 |
| Price Level (BEA 2024, US = 100) | 105.8 | 111.1 | -5.3 |
| Median at National-Average Prices | $72,706 | $92,610▲ | -$19,904 |
| Total Employment | 12,030 | 14,560 | -2,530 |
3Summary Analysis
On paper, Seattle, WA pays $26,010 more (median: $76,910 vs $102,920). BEA's regional price parity is 105.8 in Denver, CO and 111.1 in Seattle, WA (United States = 100). At national-average prices the medians are $72,706 and $92,610, so Seattle, WA comes out ahead once local prices are counted.
5Reading This Comparison
The $26,010 gap between the two medians is a gap in dollars, not in what those dollars buy. Dividing each median by its area's regional price parity restates it at national-average prices: $72,706 for Denver and $92,610 for Seattle, a difference of $19,904.
The price levels come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which describes them this way: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” The figures used here are the all-items index for each whole metropolitan area (Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA) and cover prices only, not taxes.
BLS estimates 12,030 Elementary School Teacher jobs in the Denver area and 14,560 in the Seattle area. For broader context, see our Colorado overview and the full Elementary School Teacher city ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elementary School Teacher salary higher in Denver, CO or Seattle, WA?
Seattle, WA has the higher median wage for Elementary School Teachers ($102,920 per year, against $76,910 in Denver, CO; BLS OEWS May 2025). Restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, the medians are $72,706 in Denver, CO and $92,610 in Seattle, WA.
How do prices compare between Denver, CO and Seattle, WA?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the 2024 regional price parity at 105.8 for the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan area and 111.1 for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area, where the United States is 100. That is 5.8% above the national level for Denver, CO and 11.1% above the national level for Seattle, WA.
Which city pays Elementary School Teachers more once local prices are counted?
Seattle, WA: at national-average prices its median Elementary School Teacher wage is $92,610, against $72,706 for Denver, CO. The adjustment divides each median by the area's BEA regional price parity and covers prices only, not taxes.