State profile · NCES F-33 FY2022
Teacher Salary in Colorado
According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available across 181 public school districts in Colorado.
- $80,177
- Est. state avg salary
- -6.5%
- vs national
- #23
- National rank
- 181
- Districts
Colorado's estimated average teacher salary is $80,177, below the national average of $85,759, ranking #23 of 51 states and territories, across 181 public school districts (NCES CCD F-33, FY2022).
- middle third nationally (#23 of 51)
- $83,633 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
- -6.5% vs the national average
- +12.1% since FY2019
- #34 of 51 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 102.3)
What does the NCES F-33 data show for Colorado?
Colorado reports 181 public school districts in the NCES Common Core of Data FY2022 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, with an average teacher salary of $80,177. That places the state in the middle third of US teacher-pay rankings - #23 of 51, below the national average of $85,759 (-6.5%). The state's public schools serve 856,574 students across these districts. Most district figures divide total instructional spending by the district's REPORTED teacher headcount (NCES CCD Staff Universe Survey); a small number of large consolidated districts that report staffing only at a sub-district level fall back to an estimated ratio instead, since total instructional spending also includes aides and assistants, both figures run somewhat above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, treat this as a relative cross-district comparison, not an exact paycheck, and see our methodology for the formula, its data source per district, and its limits.
Among enrolling districts, pay varies widely: Huerfano School District Re-1 reports the highest estimated average salary at $133,420, while Fowler School District No. R4J sits at the lower end at $49,787 - a spread of $83,633 between top and bottom reporting districts. Licensing rules, state aid formulas, collective bargaining density, and local tax bases all drive this intra-state variation. Urban and suburban districts with larger tax bases typically lead, while rural districts often lag despite lower cost of living.
Teacher compensation here reflects both state policy choices, the statutory minimum salary schedule, pension funding levels, licensure reciprocity, and the funding formula that determines how much state aid each district receives per pupil. A #23 national rank signals where Colorado sits in the competition for teachers against neighboring states; teacher shortage areas typically correlate with lower pay rank. Figures below are per-district averages derived from the F-33 instructional salary expenditure field (Z33) divided by each district's reported teacher FTE (or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure), a district-level aggregate, not individual salary records.
Purchasing-power-adjusted rank
Colorado's nominal average teacher salary ranks #23 of 51 states and territories. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2022 Regional Price Parity (102.3, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $78,405, ranking #34 of 51 , 11 places lower 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.
Colorado's estimated average teacher salary, FY2019-FY2022
Highest-paying districts in Colorado
Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)
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$133,420 Est. avg salary
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$113,535 Est. avg salary
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$103,485 Est. avg salary
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$93,392 Est. avg salary
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$92,813 Est. avg salary
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$92,115 Est. avg salary
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$88,769 Est. avg salary
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$85,852 Est. avg salary
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$85,782 Est. avg salary
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$85,646 Est. avg salary
What this shows Huerfano School District Re-1 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.
Top 3 districts
Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary
Showing 101–142 of 142 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fowler School District No. R4J | $49,787 | 366 |
| Springfield School District No. Re-4 | $51,057 | 278 |
| North Conejos School District No. Re1J | $51,531 | 1,005 |
| Akron School District No. R-1 | $51,653 | 411 |
| Branson Reorganized School District No. 82 | $51,958 | 502 |
| Swink School District No. 33 in the county of Otero and St | $52,996 | 311 |
| Ignacio School District No. 11Jt | $53,193 | 640 |
| Dolores County School District RE-2J | $53,275 | 253 |
| Kiowa County School District No. Re-1 | $53,318 | 219 |
| Haxtun School District No. Re-2J | $53,333 | 339 |
Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.
Compare Nearby-Ranked States
Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2022. 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 Colorado's 181 public school districts, the average teacher salary is $80,177 (NCES CCD F-33 finance data divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2022). This figure is derived from total instructional spending and runs above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, read it as a relative comparison.
Which Colorado school district pays teachers the most?
Huerfano School District Re-1 reports the highest average teacher salary in Colorado at $133,420, while Fowler School District No. R4J sits at the lower end at $49,787.
How does Colorado teacher pay compare to the national average?
Colorado's average of $80,177 is below the national average of $85,759 (-6.5%), ranking #23 of 51 US states and territories.
How many school districts are in Colorado?
Colorado has 181 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 856,574 students.
Can teachers earn $100,000 in Colorado?
3 of 142 Colorado districts with reliable data report an estimated average teacher salary of $100,000 or more, led by Huerfano School District Re-1 at $133,420. 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?
Adjusted by the BEA's 2022 Regional Price Parity (102.3, US=100), Colorado's purchasing-power-adjusted estimated teacher salary is $78,405, ranking #34 of 51 states and territories, lower than its #23 nominal-salary rank. This is a relative state-level price-level comparison, not take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.
Related
According to the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, PlainTeacher's figures are computed directly, no number is typed in by an editor. Colorado's district figures are aggregated directly from each district's FY2022 F-33 submission, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of FY2022.
| Publisher | PlainTeacher |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |