Cost of hiring an accountant in Denver-Aurora, CO
Denver-Aurora is the most expensive place in Colorado to hire an accountant. The median is $100,020 a year[1], 3.1% above the Colorado statewide median of $97,030 and 19.5% above the US median of $83,680. Only 8 of 521 US areas pay more for this job. With about 22,720 accountants, 64% of the Colorado total, no area in Colorado employs more.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Denver-Aurora against Colorado and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora, CO | $63,550 | $100,020 | $165,010 | |
| Colorado | $60,760 | $97,030 | $162,160 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Denver-Aurora earns $78,130–$130,870. The top tenth earns $165,010 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.6 times.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $63,550 | $5,296 | $30.55 | $90,786 |
| 25th percentile | $78,130 | $6,511 | $37.56 | $111,614 |
| Median | $100,020 | $8,335 | $48.09 | $142,886 |
| 75th percentile | $130,870 | $10,906 | $62.92 | $186,957 |
| 90th percentile | $165,010 | $13,751 | $79.33 | $235,729 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $30,850 a year in pay and about $44,071 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $21,890 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Denver-Aurora
At the $100,020 median, a local hire costs about $142,886 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $42,866 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. 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].
Other roles in Denver-Aurora
Of the 17 roles we track in Denver-Aurora, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $116,740 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,680.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +16.7% | 20,710 | |
| Accountant | this role | 22,720 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -1.0% | 17,000 | |
| Recruiter | -17.5% | 12,520 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -19.4% | 24,480 | |
| Paralegal | -19.5% | 3,740 | |
| Office Manager | -20.9% | 14,710 | |
| Executive Assistant | -32.0% | 5,930 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -35.3% | 1,580 | |
| Bookkeeper | -42.5% | 14,100 | |
| HR Assistant | -43.9% | 950 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -50.2% | 1,320 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -50.2% | 15,350 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -51.4% | 23,560 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -52.2% | 5,980 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -55.1% | 680 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -56.3% | 5,480 |
Other areas in Colorado
Across the 10 areas of Colorado with data for this job, the median runs from $76,530 in the Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetro area to $100,020 in Denver-Aurora, a gap of $23,490 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Denver-Aurora | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora, CO | this area | 22,720 | |
| Boulder, CO | -0.0% | 2,380 | |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | -10.7% | 1,860 | |
| Greeley, CO | -12.8% | 1,160 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | -15.0% | 2,580 | |
| Northwest Colorado (Nonmetro) | -17.1% | 1,620 | |
| Southwest Colorado (Nonmetro) | -20.3% | 970 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Denver-Aurora, CO?
About $142,886 a year at the median, or $11,907 a month: $100,020 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Denver-Aurora?
The median was $100,020 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $63,550, the 90th $165,010, and the middle half earned $78,130 to $130,870.
Is Denver-Aurora the most expensive area in Colorado for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $100,020 is the highest of 10 areas in Colorado. Boulder comes next at $99,990.
How many accountants work in Denver-Aurora?
BLS counts about 22,720 in the May 2025 survey. That is 64% of the Colorado total of 35,410.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in Denver-Aurora?
Yes: $980 a year more at the median. The medians are $100,020 and $99,040.
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 2026-11-06.