PublicPay

Federal employee salaries in Colorado

Full-time federal civilian employees with a published duty station in Colorado earned a median of $116,434 in September 2026, 6% above the all-federal median of $109,641. That ranks #5 of 51 (50 states and DC) by median pay.

Median pay
$116,434
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$84,316–$149,589
25th–75th percentile
Employees
24,307
with published duty station
Rank
#5
of 51 by median
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Colorado
All federal (full-time)

OPM withheld the duty-station location for 943,611 federal employees nationwide, including the entire Department of Defense civilian workforce and large parts of the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice. Those employees are not counted in any state, so state totals understate the federal presence, especially in states with large military installations.

Pay by occupation in Colorado

The 30 largest occupations in Colorado with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay (128 qualify in total).

Federal pay by occupation in Colorado
Occupation Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Nurse Series 0610 1,512 $125,538 $116,202–$140,228
Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301 1,040 $113,107 $91,594–$142,412
Information Technology Management Series 2210 1,002 $146,311 $121,692–$167,830
Management and Program Analysis Series 0343 941 $127,725 $106,453–$149,589
Air Traffic Control Series 2152 704 $182,041 $133,064–$209,091
General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401 587 $116,758 $98,459–$138,902
Medical Support Assistance Series 0679 535 $64,005 $59,738–$67,884
Medical Officer Series 0602 520 $307,865 $282,240–$365,963
Civil Engineering Series 0810 518 $132,541 $114,843–$150,324
General Attorney Series 0905 489 $177,640 $154,264–$197,200
Wildland Fire Management Series 0456 477 $61,514 $52,957–$82,546
Forestry Technician Series 0462 468 $60,553 $50,460–$74,378
Human Resources Management Series 0201 465 $126,415 $106,453–$146,368
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant Series 0303 458 $61,889 $55,693–$69,391
General Business and Industry Series 1101 454 $129,742 $109,780–$154,264
General Physical Science Series 1301 414 $138,456 $119,761–$163,615
Social Work Series 0185 410 $113,411 $98,078–$127,725
Financial Administration and Program Series 0501 393 $106,453 $86,041–$130,543
Contracting Series 1102 370 $129,742 $109,780–$154,264
Social Insurance Administration Series 0105 362 $105,475 $88,818–$119,761
Veterans Claims Examining Series 0996 288 $99,922 $83,362–$116,434
Contact Representative Series 0962 280 $70,614 $66,461–$76,844
Program Management Series 0340 235 $177,640 $150,102–$197,200
General Health Science Series 0601 230 $113,107 $102,597–$138,456
Emergency Management Specialist Series 0089 229 $126,587 $109,780–$154,264
Park Ranger Series 0025 228 $56,262 $50,460–$87,152
Social Science Series 0101 206 $107,183 $94,370–$130,543
Accounting Series 0510 205 $130,543 $113,107–$150,324
Psychology Series 0180 204 $142,200 $125,948–$159,120
Pharmacist Series 0660 202 $174,269 $164,072–$183,689

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Pay by agency in Colorado

Federal pay by agency in Colorado
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Veterans Affairs 7,555 $108,071 $74,269–$134,500
Department of the Interior 5,052 $113,107 $84,638–$142,412
Department of Agriculture 2,909 $91,594 $68,819–$123,088
Department of Transportation 1,451 $150,324 $113,107–$189,007
Department of Commerce 1,347 $154,280 $114,052–$182,316
Department of Health and Human Services 729 $134,500 $118,675–$158,939
Department of the Treasury 715 $91,265 $73,142–$134,500
Department of Homeland Security 712 $126,587 $106,453–$150,324
Department of Energy 689 $146,236 $129,742–$164,857
Department of Justice 667 $94,520 $82,690–$123,088
Environmental Protection Agency 551 $142,412 $122,631–$158,939
Social Security Administration 514 $109,780 $88,818–$129,742
General Services Administration 286 $138,456 $119,761–$158,939
Department of Housing and Urban Development 240 $134,500 $120,277–$156,756
Department of Labor 217 $126,415 $106,453–$146,368
Small Business Administration 116 $123,088 $99,892–$154,280
Securities and Exchange Commission 98 $252,778 $199,137–$267,945
Department of State 56 $108,251 $87,430–$152,608
Department of Education 46 $144,914 $122,631–$163,615
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 42 $154,272 $138,456–$183,588
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 38 $166,799 $118,931–$197,581

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved +1.0% from $115,283 in September 2025 to $116,434 in September 2026. Headcount went from 27,846 to 24,307 (−12.7%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

States with similar median federal pay

All states ranked →