SOC 25-2058 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — Colorado
Colorado · 7 metro areas compared
In Colorado the median wage is $67,240.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Colorado the median wage is $67,240. That is 9.5% lower than the national median of $74,260. Pay ranges from under $51,760 at the tenth percentile to more than $100,430 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $62,470 to $82,170.
Employment stands at 2,970, or 1.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Colorado ranks number 23rd out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Boulder records the highest median at $82,140. Of the 738 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 321st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $51,760 | −30.3% |
| 25th | $62,470 | −15.9% |
| Median (50th) | $67,240 | −9.5% |
| 75th | $82,170 | +10.7% |
| 90th | $100,430 | +35.2% |
| Mean | $74,310 | +0.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder | $82,140 | 210 | |
| 2 | Denver | $78,450 | 1,680 | |
| 3 | Pueblo | $77,060 | 70 | |
| 4 | Greeley | $72,270 | 110 | |
| 5 | Grand Junction | $65,090 | 60 | |
| 6 | Fort Collins | $63,330 | 140 | |
| 7 | Colorado Springs | $61,940 | 360 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $67,240 buys what $65,218 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 12.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$67,240as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$65,218US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $67,240 a year, 9.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $51,760 to $100,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,970 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 23rd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Boulder, at $82,140.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Colorado?
The median annual wage is $67,240, 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 $74,260, so pay in Colorado is 9.5% lower. 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 $100,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $51,760 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 $82,140 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,970 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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