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State profile · NCES F-33 FY2023

Teacher Salary in Colorado

Colorado's estimated average is $64,442 across 141 reliable districts (#28 of 49). According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available for every public school district in Colorado.

$64,442
Est. state avg salary

Below benchmark

-8.3%
vs national
#28
National rank
181
Districts

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$64,442/year (est.)

Colorado's estimated average is $64,442 across 141 reliable districts (#28 of 49). Estimated average teacher salary is $64,442, below the national average of $70,245, ranking #28 of 49, across 141 public school districts with reliable data (NCES CCD F-33, FY2023).

  • Mid-pack salary posture: Colorado's estimated average is $64,442 across 141 reliable districts (#28 of 49).
  • middle third nationally (#28 of 49)
  • Colorado ranks #28 of 49 on the salary estimate and #19 of 49 on enrollment in the same reliable-district pool.
  • $59,935 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
  • -8.3% vs the national average
  • +25.5% estimated-basis panel FY2019→FY2023 (balanced cohort, not the FTE average above)
  • #26 of 49 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 101.9)

Same-district trend

How does a balanced panel separate change from district turnover?

For the same 165 Colorado districts present with valid estimates in every release, the average state figure moved from $55,856 in FY2019 to $70,101 in FY2023 (+25.5%).

The fixed cohort prevents entering or missing districts from masquerading as salary movement. It is still a change in a derived district-level estimate, not evidence of any individual teacher's raise.

Purchasing-power-adjusted rank for Colorado

Colorado's nominal average teacher salary ranks #28 of the 49 states and territories that report teacher salaries. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2023 Regional Price Parity (101.9, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $75,168, ranking #26 of 49 , 2 places higher than the nominal rank once relative price levels are factored in. This purchasing-power view is not published by NEA's teacher-pay rankings or the aggregator sites; it comes from combining our own F-33-derived salary estimate with BEA's public RPP series. See the full 51-state release for methodology and download. BEA Regional Price Parities · NCES CCD F-33

Colorado in the teacher-salary distribution

FY2023 estimated state averages from the same NCES-derived ranking

$64,442 43rd percentile higher than 43% of 49 reporting states and territories

Show national distribution $0–$5,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Below this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 2 reporting states and territories (4%). Below this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 6 reporting states and territories (12%). Below this entry. $55,000–$60,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Below this entry. $60,000–$65,000: 9 reporting states and territories (18%). This entry sits in this band. $65,000–$70,000: 7 reporting states and territories (14%). Above this entry. $70,000–$75,000: 2 reporting states and territories (4%). Above this entry. $75,000–$80,000: 4 reporting states and territories (8%). Above this entry. $80,000–$85,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $85,000–$90,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $90,000–$95,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. $95,000–$100,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $100,000–$105,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $105,000–$110,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $110,000–$115,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. $115,000–$120,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $120,000–$125,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. Colorado $0 $125,000 reporting state salary estimates, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more reporting states and territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey; state estimates derived from reported instructional-salary expenditure and teacher FTE · FY2023

Colorado's comparable salary trend

Same reporting-district cohort, FY2019-FY2023

FY2023 estimated average
$70,101 25.502233717522383% vs FY2019
165 districts held in the panel
$50,000$55,000$60,000$65,000$70,000$75,000 FY2019FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023 Colorado est. avg teacher salary, FY2019: $55,856Colorado est. avg teacher salary, FY2020: $58,550Colorado est. avg teacher salary, FY2021: $62,501Colorado est. avg teacher salary, FY2022: $66,131Colorado est. avg teacher salary, FY2023: $70,101 $55,856 $70,101 ▲ +25.5%
Read the chart as text
Period Colorado est. avg teacher salary
FY2019 $55,856
FY2020 $58,550
FY2021 $62,501
FY2022 $66,131
FY2023 $70,101

Highest-paying districts in Colorado

Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)

Est. avg salary

What this shows Crowley County School District No. Re-1-J leads Colorado on the F-33 instructional-salary estimate. Service entities (CTCs, county offices) are excluded, their enrollment-based ratios are not reliable salary figures.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, FY2023 As of FY2023

Top 3 districts

1 $105,729

Crowley County School District No. Re-1-J

Est. avg teacher salary
2 $101,390

Aspen School District No. 1 in the county of Pitkin and Sta

Est. avg teacher salary
3 $100,672

Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah

Est. avg teacher salary

Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary

District Est. Avg Salary Enrollment Per-Pupil Exp
Crowley County School District No. Re-1-J $105,729 379 $19,997
Aspen School District No. 1 in the county of Pitkin and Sta $101,390 1,572 $67,519
Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah $100,672 52,392 $18,139
Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 $98,395 28,485 $19,272
Adams 12 Five Star Schools $89,579 35,747 $16,447
Littleton School District No. 6 in the county of Arapahoe $88,905 13,450 $25,874
Telluride School District No. R-1 $87,963 895 $29,098
Westminster Public Schools $87,048 8,004 $19,713
School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C $84,963 87,883 $22,623
Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A $82,104 38,122 $22,852
Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1 $81,661 5,771 $18,646
Mapleton School District No. 1 in the county of Adams & St $80,753 7,088 $15,884
Sheridan School District No. 2 $79,984 1,125 $30,592
Deer Trail School District No. 26J $79,424 325 $15,142
Summit School District No. Re 1 $79,029 3,633 $17,690
Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E $78,940 22,725 $17,548
Jefferson County School District No. R-1 $78,435 75,327 $17,069
Douglas County School District No. Re 1 $78,029 62,341 $15,061
Weld County School District No. Re-7 $76,840 1,094 $18,773
School District N. 14 in the county of Adams & State of Colo $76,815 5,692 $19,661
Steamboat Springs School District No. Re 2 $76,622 2,664 $24,146
Mountain Valley School District No. Re 1 $76,571 221 $17,986
Center Consolidated School District No. 26 Jt. of the count $75,895 607 $21,577
Miami-Yoder Joint District No. 60 of the counties of El Pas $75,622 340 $18,300
Poudre School District R-1 $74,783 29,977 $16,736
Primero Reorganized School District No. 2 $74,194 258 $24,109
Thompson School District R-2J $73,985 15,083 $17,892
Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12 in the county of E $73,743 3,737 $14,815
St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J $73,410 31,894 $15,935
Fountain School District No. 8 in the county of El Paso an $73,384 8,201 $17,821
East Otero School District No. R1 $72,961 1,355 $17,390
Denver 1 $72,198 390 $13,562
Englewood School District No. 1 in the county of Arapahoe $72,120 2,441 $23,326
Weld County School District No. Re-5J $71,588 3,853 $37,392
Eagle County School District No. Re 50 $71,577 6,620 $19,987
Cripple Creek-Victor School District No. Re-1 $71,408 313 $39,696
Gilpin County School District No. Re-1 $70,378 408 $18,012
School District No. Re-50 Wiggins $70,032 862 $42,586
Plateau Valley School District No. 50 in the county of Mesa $69,960 314 $17,554
GreeleySchool District No. 6 in the county of Weld and Sta $68,981 22,200 $21,698
Gunnison Watershed School District Re1J $68,853 2,061 $16,920
Lake County School District No. R-1 $68,601 979 $23,139
Estes Park School District R-3 $68,453 1,014 $17,987
Academy School District No. 20 in the county of El Paso an $68,349 25,719 $13,981
Hoehne Reorganized School District No. 3 $68,320 319 $15,044
Sierra Grande School District No. R-30 $67,955 289 $42,536
Montrose County School District Re-1J $67,757 6,029 $13,143
Garfield School District No. Re-2 $67,041 4,662 $16,691
School District No. Re-1 Valley $67,027 1,972 $13,048
School District No. 3 in the county of El Paso and State of $66,915 9,611 $17,077
Platte Canyon School District No. 1 of the county of Park $66,255 797 $16,725
Ridgway School District No. R-2 of the county of Ouray a $66,171 332 $56,825
Hayden School District No. Re 1 $66,063 454 $20,793
East Grand School District No. 2 $65,963 1,283 $38,466
Weld re-8 schools $65,899 2,522 $14,703
Pueblo County School District 70 $65,695 10,501 $15,301
School District 27J $65,472 22,713 $17,772
Manitou Springs School District No. 14 in the county of El $65,465 1,317 $16,768
Las Animas School District No. Re-1 $65,280 822 $18,178
Meeker School District Re1 $65,200 712 $17,890
Pueblo School District No. 60 in the county of Pueblo and $64,689 15,025 $22,925
South Routt School District No. Re 3 $64,634 350 $30,397
Huerfano School District Re-1 $64,348 491 $52,894
Weld County School District RE-3J $64,056 2,785 $14,387
Moffat County School District RE: No. 1 $63,753 2,092 $14,093
Fremont Re-1 $63,334 3,305 $17,583
Trinidad School District 1 in the county of Las Animas and $63,277 796 $16,940
Alamosa School District No. Re-11J $63,265 2,116 $17,267
Park County School District No. Re-2 $63,245 595 $20,316
Salida School District No. R-32 $62,955 1,327 $17,952
Delta County Joint District No. 50 $62,902 4,592 $15,258
Woodland Park School District No. Re-2 $62,892 2,010 $17,409
Weld County Reorganized School District No. Re-4 $62,708 8,227 $14,951
Sanford School District No. 6 in the county of Conejos and $62,670 384 $14,193
Grand Valley School District No. 16 in the county of Garfi $62,352 1,198 $18,152
El Paso County Colorado School District 49 $62,144 24,515 $13,895
Clear Creek School District No. Re-1 $61,985 680 $33,535
Archuleta County School District No. 50 Jt $61,611 1,678 $14,993
Fremont Re-2 $61,512 1,390 $18,776
Elizabeth School District $61,383 2,379 $13,699
School District No. R-4 in the county of Kit Carson and Stat $61,318 221 $16,747
Harrison School District No. 2 in the county of El Paso an $61,195 12,267 $20,355
Lamar School District No. Re-2 $61,174 1,522 $11,760
Mesa County Valley School District No. 51 $60,634 20,762 $16,646
Holly School District No. Re-3 $60,491 273 $16,220
Lewis-Palmer Consolidated School District No. 38 in the co $60,444 6,496 $14,536
Weld County Reorganized School District No. Re-1 $59,701 1,837 $18,317
Bennett School District No. 29J $59,544 1,296 $12,265
Rangely School District RE4 $59,497 488 $17,002
Buena Vista School District No. R-31 $59,145 1,032 $18,183
Big Sandy School District No. 100J $59,122 361 $15,263
Mancos School District Re-6 $59,054 509 $14,147
School District No. Re-2 Brush $58,640 1,366 $17,290
Weld County School District No. Re-2 $58,551 1,977 $29,416
McClave School District No. Re-2 $58,484 258 $18,039
Montezuma-Cortez School District No. Re-1 $57,245 2,449 $14,961
North Conejos School District No. Re1J $56,549 988 $16,630
Branson Reorganized School District No. 82 $56,481 442 $10,998
Durango School District No. 9-R $56,158 5,452 $20,890
La Veta School District Re-2 $55,695 238 $21,538

Showing 1–100 of 141 enrolling districts. Specialized non-enrolling agencies (career/technical centers, county offices, service co-ops) are excluded from the salary ranking, their enrollment-based estimates are not reliable.

Lowest-Paying Districts in Colorado

District Est. Avg Salary Enrollment
School District No. Re-3 Frenchman $45,793 221
Springfield School District No. Re-4 $45,795 304
Akron School District No. R-1 $45,923 427
West Grand School District No. 1 $46,310 391
Holyoke School District No. Re-1J $48,811 552
Dolores County School District RE-2J $49,066 263
West End School District No. Re-2 $49,556 260
Hanover School District No. 28 in the county of El Paso an $49,861 287
Sangre de Cristo School District No. Re-22J $50,749 259
Fowler School District No. R4J $50,924 347

Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.

Nationwide states with similar K-12 scale to Colorado

Two nationwide peer sets for Colorado: closest on estimated average teacher salary ($64,442 here) and closest on total student enrollment (847,308 here). Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not geographic containment.

Similar estimated salary

Nearest other states by unweighted district-mean teacher pay (F-33 derived, ≥5 districts with reliable estimates).

Similar enrollment

Nearest other states by NCES-reported K-12 enrollment. Salary peers above are excluded.

Compare Nearby-Ranked States

Louisiana
$66,733
Rank #25
Idaho
$66,710
Rank #26
South Carolina
$64,775
Rank #27
Arizona
$63,921
Rank #29

Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2023. Salary figures divide instructional expenditure (variable Z33) by each district's reported teacher FTE, or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure. Not individual salary data. Read our methodology.

Colorado teacher salary FAQ

What is the average teacher salary in Colorado?

Across 141 Colorado public school districts with reliable data, the average teacher salary is $64,442 (NCES CCD F-33 reported teacher salaries divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2023). It is a district-level mean derived from finance filings, so it will not match a contract-salary survey exactly, read it as a relative comparison.

Which Colorado school district pays teachers the most?

Crowley County School District No. Re-1-J reports the highest average teacher salary in Colorado at $105,729, while School District No. Re-3 Frenchman sits at the lower end at $45,793.

How does Colorado teacher pay compare to the national average?

Colorado's average of $64,442 is below the national average of $70,245 (-8.3%), ranking #28 of the 49 jurisdictions with a reliable district estimate.

How many school districts are in Colorado?

Colorado has 181 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 847,308 students.

How much do teachers make in Colorado?

District-average teacher pay in Colorado runs from $45,793 in School District No. Re-3 Frenchman to $105,729 in Crowley County School District No. Re-1-J, with 3 of 141 reliable-data districts at $100,000 or above. Where a teacher lands depends far more on which district employs them than on the statewide figure. These are district-wide averages from NCES CCD F-33 (FY2023), not individual salaries or pay-scale steps.

Can teachers earn $100,000 in Colorado?

3 of 141 Colorado districts with reliable data report an estimated average teacher salary of $100,000 or more, led by Crowley County School District No. Re-1-J at $105,729. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.

How does Colorado rank after adjusting for cost of living?

Within the separate enrollment-weighted state comparison, BEA's 2023 Regional Price Parity (101.9, US=100) adjusts Colorado's nominal estimate of $76,563 from #20 to $75,168 and #26. The headline uses an unweighted district mean, so this does not replace it. Neither measure is take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.

Explore Colorado

Disclaimer & data sources

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainTeacher for Colorado