SalariesByCity
BLS SOC 21-1012 · Colorado · Updated 2026

School Counselor Salary in Denver, CO

School Counselors in Denver, CO earn a median of $54,000/year, ranging from $41,580 (25th percentile) to $86,400 (90th percentile). After Colorado state taxes (4.4%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 128), this is equivalent to $42,188 in purchasing power vs the US average.

Median Annual
$54,000
BLS median
Entry Level (P25)
$41,580
25th percentile
Senior (P75)
$69,120
75th percentile
Top Earners (P90)
$86,400
90th percentile

1Salary Distribution in Denver, CO

P25
P75
P25
$41,580
Median
$54,000
P75
$69,120
P90
$86,400

2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power

Gross Median Salary
$54,000
Before taxes
Est. Take-Home (After Tax)
$47,701
After 4.4% state + ~7.6% FICA
COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$37,266
vs US average (COL index: 128)

* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.

3

How Does Denver, CO Compare?

Nearby and similar metro areas
CityMedianCOL IndexCOL-Adjusted
Denver, CO (current)$54,000128$42,188
San Francisco, CA$70,000186$37,634
New York, NY$67,000187$35,829
Seattle, WA$68,000162$41,975
Boston, MA$62,000162$38,272
Austin, TX$56,000124$45,161

4Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average School Counselor salary in Denver, CO?

The median School Counselor salary in Denver, CO is $54,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $41,580 and the 90th percentile is $86,400.

Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a School Counselor?

Denver, CO has a cost of living index of 128 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $54,000 School Counselor salary in Denver, CO is equivalent to $42,188 in purchasing power compared to the US average.

What is the cost of living adjustment for Denver, CO?

Denver, CO has a cost of living index of 128, meaning it is 28% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Colorado is approximately 4.4%.

What is the School Counselor salary range in Denver, CO?

In Denver, CO, School Counselors earn between $41,580 (25th percentile) and $86,400 (90th percentile), with a median of $54,000 per year.

How many School Counselor jobs are there in Denver, CO?

According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 70,000 School Counselor positions in the Denver, CO metropolitan area.

What do School Counselors earn in Denver, CO?

Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, School Counselors in Denver, CO earn a median annual wage of $54,000. The middle 50% earn between $41,580 and $69,120. The top 10% earn more than $86,400. There are approximately 70,000 School Counselors employed in the Denver, CO metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 5.7%.

Is Denver, CO a good place for a School Counselor?

Denver, CO has a cost of living index of 128 (US average = 100), making it 28% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a School Counselor in Denver, CO earning $54,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $42,188 relative to the US median. Colorado has a state income tax rate of approximately 4.4%.

What is the cost of living adjustment for Denver, CO?

Denver, CO's cost of living index is 128, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $54,000 in Denver, COhas the same purchasing power as $42,188 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.

Compare Denver, CO with Another City

See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.

Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.