SOC 17-2041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chemical Engineers — Colorado
Colorado · 3 metro areas compared
At $125,800, median pay for Chemical Engineers in Colorado tracks the national median of $125,040 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $125,800, median pay for Chemical Engineers in Colorado tracks the national median of $125,040 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $97,490 and $150,280. The lowest tenth earn under $80,130, while the highest tenth earn more than $188,640.
Employment stands at 720, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 41 states with published data for this occupation, Colorado ranks 14th by median wage. Fort Collins leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $139,220. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 72nd of 738 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $80,130 | −35.9% |
| 25th | $97,490 | −22.0% |
| Median (50th) | $125,800 | +0.6% |
| 75th | $150,280 | +20.2% |
| 90th | $188,640 | +50.9% |
| Mean | $126,060 | +0.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Collins | $139,220 | 40 | |
| 2 | Denver | $128,110 | 410 | |
| 3 | Boulder | $125,800 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $125,800 buys what $122,017 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$125,800as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$122,017US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $125,800 a year, 0.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $80,130 to $188,640 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 720 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 14th of 41 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fort Collins, at $139,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chemical Engineers in Colorado?
The median annual wage is $125,800, or $60.48 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $125,040, so pay in Colorado is 0.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Colorado earns more than $188,640 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $80,130 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fort Collins, at $139,220 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 720 jobs in this occupation in Colorado. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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