Salary

CPA Salary in Colorado (2026)

Use current federal wage benchmarks to evaluate accounting pay in Colorado. The figures cover accountants and auditors, not CPAs alone, so the page separates published data from career interpretation.

Quick answer

The May 2025 BLS benchmark for accountants and auditors in Colorado is $103k in annual mean pay and $97k at the median. BLS does not publish a CPA-only state wage.

Published source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS state estimates for Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011), reference period May 2025, released 2026-05-15. These are occupation-wide figures, not CPA-only, experience-level, employer, or industry estimates.

$103k

Annual Mean

BLS accountants and auditors

$97k

Annual Median

Colorado

$75k

25th Percentile

lower-market benchmark

$127k

75th Percentile

upper-market benchmark

Colorado accountant and auditor wage distribution

BLS percentiles describe the statewide occupation distribution. They do not map directly to years of experience or guarantee a CPA salary.

May 2025 BLS annual wage estimates

10th percentile
$60,760
25th percentile
$74,900
Median
$97,030
Annual mean
$103,150
75th percentile
$127,270
90th percentile
$162,160

Lower-end and higher-end salary benchmarks in Colorado

Colorado Accountants and Auditors, BLS OEWS May 2025
BLS benchmarkAnnual payHow to use it
10th percentile$60,760Lower end of the occupation distribution
25th percentile$74,900Lower-market comparison point
Median$97,030Half of reported wages fall above and half below
75th percentile$127,270Upper-market comparison point
90th percentile$162,160Upper end of the occupation distribution

Planning to earn the credential? Review the Colorado CPA exam and license requirements.

How to read Colorado CPA salary data

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports $103,150 in annual mean pay and $97,030 in annual median pay for accountants and auditors in Colorado. The mean is influenced by higher-paid roles, while the median marks the midpoint of the published wage distribution.

These figures are the most defensible statewide benchmark available here, but they are not a CPA premium study. Use them to anchor an offer comparison, then account for certification, specialty, city, employer, responsibility, and experience.

Lower and upper pay benchmarks in Colorado

The lower end of the BLS distribution runs from $60,760 at the 10th percentile to $74,900 at the 25th percentile. Because BLS does not classify wages by years of experience, this range should not be described as a guaranteed starting salary.

At the upper end, the 75th percentile is $127,270 and the 90th percentile is $162,160. Those values describe the occupation distribution, not a promised senior, manager, director, or partner salary.

What can change a CPA salary in Colorado

CPA status can strengthen a candidate's position, but compensation still depends on the work performed. Public accounting, corporate reporting, tax, audit, advisory, government, and nonprofit roles can sit at different points in the statewide distribution.

Compare total compensation as well as base pay. Bonuses, retirement contributions, health coverage, overtime expectations, remote-work terms, and the local cost of housing can materially change the value of an offer.

Turn your Colorado salary goal into a study plan

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average accountant salary in Colorado?
The May 2025 BLS OEWS estimate lists annual mean pay of $103,150 for accountants and auditors in Colorado. BLS released this dataset in May 2026 and does not publish a CPA-only state average.
What is a realistic starting salary benchmark in Colorado?
BLS does not label wages by experience level. Its 10th-to-25th-percentile range for Colorado accountants and auditors is $60,760 to $74,900. Treat that as a lower-end market benchmark, not a guaranteed CPA starting salary.
What do higher-paid accountants earn in Colorado?
The BLS 75th-to-90th-percentile range is $127,270 to $162,160 for accountants and auditors in Colorado. Certification, role, industry, city, responsibility, and experience can all affect an individual offer.
Does BLS report CPA salaries separately?
No. BLS occupation code 13-2011 combines accountants and auditors and does not identify CPA status. This guide uses those figures as a transparent market benchmark rather than presenting them as CPA-only wages.