Accountant salary and cost of hiring in Colorado
The median accountant in Colorado earned $97,030 a year in May 2025[1], 16.0% above the US median of $83,680. That puts Colorado at #7 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $60,760 | $97,030 | $162,160 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Colorado earns $74,900–$127,270; the top tenth earns $162,160 or more, 2.7 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Colorado median that makes about $138,614 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Colorado
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $130,870 | 22,720 | |
| Boulder, CO | $129,560 | 2,380 | |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $115,090 | 1,860 | |
| Greeley, CO | $119,520 | 1,160 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $117,840 | 2,580 | |
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $107,900 | 1,620 | |
| Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $104,110 | 970 | |
| Pueblo, CO | $105,300 | 420 | |
| Grand Junction, CO | $99,980 | 640 | |
| Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $98,120 | 600 |
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO pays the most ($100,020) and Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area the least ($76,530): $23,490 a year apart for the same job.
What an accountant does
An accountant goes beyond bookkeeping: month-end close, financial statements, budgets, management reports and support for audits and tax filings.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | +0.5% | |
| California | +0.0% | |
| Colorado | +0.0% | |
| Washington | -0.5% | |
| Rhode Island | -1.2% |
Questions
How much does an accountant earn in Colorado?
The median was $97,030 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $74,900 to $127,270.
What does it cost to employ an accountant in Colorado?
About $138,614 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Colorado do accountants earn the most?
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO, with a median of $100,020 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.