Denver paycheck calculator 2026
Estimate your take-home pay in Denver, Colorado after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Colorado income tax and local tax. Hourly or salary.
What comes out of your paycheck in DenverHourly take-home pay in Denver
Full time (40 hours a week), biweekly paycheck, single filer with one job and no deductions.
| You earn | Gross per paycheck | Federal | Social Security & Medicare | State and local | Take-home | You keep | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15/h | $1,200.00 | −$60.15 | −$91.80 | −$51.42 | $996.63 | 83.1% | $25,912 |
| $20/h | $1,600.00 | −$108.15 | −$122.40 | −$70.78 | $1,298.67 | 81.2% | $33,765 |
| $25/h | $2,000.00 | −$156.15 | −$153.00 | −$90.14 | $1,600.71 | 80.0% | $41,618 |
| $30/h | $2,400.00 | −$204.15 | −$183.60 | −$109.50 | $1,902.75 | 79.3% | $49,472 |
| $40/h | $3,200.00 | −$364.38 | −$244.80 | −$148.22 | $2,442.60 | 76.3% | $63,508 |
Salary after taxes in Denver
Annual salary split into 26 paychecks.
| You earn | Gross per paycheck | Federal | Social Security & Medicare | State and local | Take-home | You keep | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,923.08 | −$146.92 | −$147.11 | −$86.42 | $1,542.63 | 80.2% | $40,108 |
| $75,000 | $2,884.62 | −$295.00 | −$220.68 | −$132.96 | $2,235.98 | 77.5% | $58,135 |
| $100,000 | $3,846.15 | −$506.54 | −$294.23 | −$179.49 | $2,865.89 | 74.5% | $74,513 |
Denver deductions, line by line
Example at $22 an hour, 80 hours, biweekly paycheck.
Colorado · −$68.13
This is Colorado state income tax: 4.40% of your annualized pay minus a fixed amount based on your W-4 filing status. No adjustment from the optional Form DR 0004 is assumed.
Source: CO DOR, DR 1098 (2026)CO FAMLI (0.44%) · −$7.74
Colorado deducts 0.44% of your wages for Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI); your employer pays the other half and may also cover part or all of your share. It only applies to the first $184,500 of wages each year.
Source: CO FAMLI Division, 2026 premiumDenver OPT · −$2.65
This is the Denver Occupational Privilege Tax ("head tax"): a flat $5.75 per month for working in the city, wherever you live. It is only charged in months when you earn $500 or more there. Here it is spread over your paychecks ($2.65 per paycheck); your employer may take the whole amount once a month.
Source: City and County of Denver, Tax Guide Topic No. 61 (rev. 04/2026)If your situation has more to it
The assumptions behind the estimate
Uses your federal W-4 filing status, as Colorado instructs when there is no optional Form DR 0004: $11,000 a year is subtracted if married filing jointly and $5,500 otherwise. For FAMLI, assumes 0.44% is deducted, the maximum allowed; your employer may cover part or all of it. Assumes you work the whole month in the chosen city and it is your only job there. The tax is a flat amount per month; here it is spread over your paychecks (12 monthly amounts divided by the number of paychecks), although many employers take the whole amount from one paycheck each month. To check the city's minimum monthly earnings, your pay for the period is converted to a month.
What is not included
Does not include the employer's share (Denver $4, Glendale $5, Greenwood Village $2 and Sheridan $3 per month), which does not come out of your pay. Aurora has not charged this tax since January 1, 2025.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax is taken out of a paycheck in Denver, Colorado?
At $20 an hour and 40 hours a week, a biweekly paycheck of $1,600.00 has $108.15 of federal income tax, $122.40 of Social Security and Medicare and $70.78 of state and local taxes withheld. You take home $1,298.67, or 81.2%. This is an estimate for a single filer with one job and no deductions.
Does Colorado have a state income tax on wages?
Yes. This is Colorado state income tax: 4.40% of your annualized pay minus a fixed amount based on your W-4 filing status.
Are there city or county taxes in Colorado?
Yes. In Colorado we calculate 4 cities, counties or districts with a local tax. Choose where you live and where you work in the calculator to include it.
Is overtime taxed more?
There is no special rate for overtime: it is added to your pay for the period and withholding is figured on the total, which is why the check grows less than you expect. From 2025 through 2028 you can deduct from federal income tax the extra half of your overtime (up to $12,500; $25,000 if married) if your income is under $150,000; it only lowers each paycheck's withholding if you entered it on your W-4.
How accurate is this paycheck calculator?
It uses the official 2026 withholding rules from the IRS and Colorado. It is still an estimate: your employer knows your W-4, your deductions and your year-to-date earnings. It is not tax or legal advice.
Official sources
- IRS, Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS, Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide — Social Security and Medicare
- Colorado DOR, DR 1098 (10/21/25), 2026 Colorado Withholding Worksheet for Employers
- Colorado FAMLI Division, Premium and Benefits Calculator (2026 premium rate and wage cap)
- City and County of Denver, Tax Guide Topic No. 61, Occupational Privilege Taxes (rev. 04/2026)
- City of Glendale, Occupational Privilege Tax
- City of Greenwood Village, Occupational Privilege Tax (OPT)
- City of Sheridan, Occupational Privilege Tax
- City of Aurora, Occupational Privilege Tax (derogado desde el 1/1/2025)