Colorado paycheck taxes at a glance
| State income tax | Flat 4.4% |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $16,100 single, $32,200 joint, $24,150 head of household |
| Pre-tax deductions | 401(k), HSA and health premiums lower state tax too |
| Local income tax | Yes: 4 options in the calculator |
| State payroll deductions | CO FAMLI 0.44% to $184,500 |
| Reciprocity | None |
| Figures | Tax year 2026 |
Every paycheck also has federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%), worked out with the same 2026 IRS figures as ourmain paycheck calculator.
Worked examples
A $70,000 salary in Denver, single, paid every two weeks
| Per paycheck | Per year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,692.31 | $70,000 |
| Federal income tax | − $252.69 | − $6,570 |
| Social Security and Medicare | − $205.96 | − $5,355 |
| Colorado income tax | − $91.22 | − $2,372 |
| Local: Denver | − $2.65 | − $69 |
| CO FAMLI | − $11.85 | − $308 |
| Take-home pay | $2,127.94 | $55,326 |
Single, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks). Colorado taxable income is $53,900 and the state tax is $2,372, an effective 3.388% of gross pay. After the $16,100 standard deduction, every remaining dollar is taxed at the same 4.4%. FAMLI and the $5.75 monthly Denver OPT are small extra lines on top.
A $150,000 household in Colorado Springs, married filing jointly with two children
| Per paycheck | Per year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $5,769.23 | $150,000 |
| 401(k) at 5% | − $288.46 | − $7,500 |
| Federal income tax | − $357.31 | − $9,290 |
| Social Security and Medicare | − $441.35 | − $11,475 |
| Colorado income tax | − $186.66 | − $4,853 |
| CO FAMLI | − $25.38 | − $660 |
| Take-home pay | $4,470.07 | $116,222 |
Married filing jointly, 2 children, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks). Colorado taxable income is $110,300 and the state tax is $4,853, an effective 3.235% of gross pay. The 5% 401(k) deferral lowers Colorado taxable income because the state starts from federal taxable income. Colorado has no per-child exemption, and FAMLI still applies to the full salary.
Occupational privilege taxes in Denver and nearby cities
No Colorado city taxes a percentage of your income. Instead, four cities charge a flat monthly “head tax” on people who work there, withheld by the employer:
- Denver: $5.75 a month in any month you earn at least $500 for work done in Denver. Your employer pays a separate $4.
- Glendale: $5 a month if you earn more than $750 that month.
- Sheridan: $3 a month.
- Greenwood Village: $2 a month if you earn $250 or more.
The tax depends on where you work, not where you live. Aurora repealed its $2 tax from January 1, 2025. The calculator adds 12 months of the tax you pick.
FAMLI: 0.44% of your pay in 2026
Colorado’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program charges a premium of 0.88% of wages in 2026, down from 0.9% in 2024 and 2025. Your employer may deduct up to half, 0.44%, from your pay, on wages up to the Social Security cap of $184,500. Employers with fewer than ten employees do not pay their half but still send in the employee share. Some employers choose to pay the whole premium, and some local governments opted out of the program, so your pay stub may show less.
High earners add back the standard deduction
Since 2026, Proposition MM (approved by voters in 2025) limits deductions for higher incomes. If your federal adjusted gross income is over $300,000, you add back to Colorado income the part of your standard or itemized deduction above $1,000 ($2,000 on a joint return). For a single filer that means $15,100 of the $16,100 standard deduction is taxed at 4.4%. The calculator applies this addback. Colorado also adds back the new federal deduction for overtime pay from 2026.
No reciprocity, and credits claimed on your return
Colorado has no reciprocal agreements. If you live in another state and work in Colorado, Colorado taxes the wages you earn here, and your home state usually gives a credit. Colorado residents can claim refundable credits on the return, such as the Colorado earned income tax credit and child tax credit for lower and middle incomes. They depend on your whole-year income, so this paycheck calculator does not include them. Compare neighbors like Utah or New Mexico.
Colorado payroll deductions besides income tax
- Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI): The 2026 FAMLI premium is 0.88% of wages, split evenly, so employees pay 0.44% on wages up to the $184,500 Social Security wage cap.
Colorado vs. neighboring states
Take-home pay on a $75,000 salary, single, no pre-tax deductions and no local tax:
| State | Income tax | State tax + programs | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Flat 4.4% | $2,922 | $58,671 |
| Wyoming | None on wages | $0 | $61,593 |
| Nebraska | 2.46% to 4.55% (3 brackets) | $2,533 | $59,060 |
| Kansas | 5.2% to 5.58% (2 brackets) | $3,385 | $58,207 |
| Oklahoma | 2.5% to 4.5% (4 brackets, 0% up to $3,750 single) | $2,830 | $58,763 |
| New Mexico | 1.5% to 5.9% (6 brackets) | $2,359 | $59,233 |
| Arizona | Flat 2.5% | $1,481 | $60,111 |
| Utah | Flat 4.45% | $3,110 | $58,483 |
Where you work and where you live can both matter. See paycheck calculators for every state for the full comparison.