SOC 51-3099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Processing Workers, All Other — Colorado
Colorado · 5 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Colorado comes to $46,930 a year, ahead of the national median of $39,680 by 18.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Colorado comes to $46,930 a year, ahead of the national median of $39,680 by 18.3%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $41,950 and $49,020. The lowest tenth earn under $37,110, while the highest tenth earn more than $52,030.
The area has 610 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.51 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 46 states with published data for this occupation, Colorado ranks 1st by median wage. Boulder leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $48,850. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 602nd of 738 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,110 | −6.5% |
| 25th | $41,950 | +5.7% |
| Median (50th) | $46,930 | +18.3% |
| 75th | $49,020 | +23.5% |
| 90th | $52,030 | +31.1% |
| Mean | $45,810 | +15.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder | $48,850 | 60 | |
| 2 | Denver | $47,750 | 240 | |
| 3 | Greeley | $46,240 | — | |
| 4 | Fort Collins | $44,960 | 30 | |
| 5 | Colorado Springs | $43,930 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $46,930 buys what $45,519 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 14.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,519US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,930 a year, 18.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,110 to $52,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 610 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 1st of 46 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boulder, at $48,850.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Processing Workers, All Other in Colorado?
The median annual wage is $46,930, or $22.56 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 $39,680, so pay in Colorado is 18.3% 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 $52,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,110 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 Boulder, at $48,850 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 610 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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