How Colorado taxes your paycheck
Colorado has a flat 4.4% income tax for tax year 2026. Before the rate applies, the calculator subtracts a standard deduction of $16,100 for single filers, $32,200 for married couples filing jointly and $24,150 for heads of household.
Traditional 401(k) contributions are excluded from Colorado taxable wages, and Section 125 health premiums are excluded.
Figures are from 2026 Colorado Withholding Worksheet for Employers, DR 1098 (tax year 2026).
Take-home pay examples in Colorado
A single filer earning $60,000 in Colorado, paid every two weeks, takes home about $1,853.63 per paycheck, or $48,194 a year. Of the $60,000, $5,020 goes to federal income tax, $4,590 to Social Security and Medicare, and $1,932 to Colorado income tax, plus $264 of state payroll contributions.
At $100,000, take-home pay is about $75,048 a year ($2,886.48 per paycheck), with $3,692 of Colorado income tax. A married couple filing jointly on one $100,000 salary keeps about $81,287, because of the larger standard deduction. The table below shows more salaries.
Colorado payroll contributions
Colorado FAMLI: 0.44% of wages up to $184,500 a year (tax year 2026; official source). This is deducted from your pay in addition to income tax and is included in the calculator.
Local income taxes in Colorado
Some cities impose employee occupational privilege taxes, generally fixed monthly amounts rather than percentage income taxes. Local taxes are not included in the calculator, so subtract them separately if they apply to you.
Hourly pay in Colorado
A full-time worker earning $20 an hour (40 hours a week, $41,600 a year) in Colorado takes home about $1,319.25 every two weeks, or $659.63 a week on average, as a single filer. Colorado income tax takes $1,122 of that pay a year, an effective state rate of 2.697%. Choose Hourly wage in the calculator to enter your own rate and hours.
Colorado compared with neighboring states
On a $75,000 salary (single, no pre-tax deductions), take-home pay in Colorado is about $58,671 a year. It is higher in Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Nebraska and Oklahoma, and lower in Utah and Kansas. The comparison table below shows the difference in dollars. Where you live usually decides which state taxes your wages, but people who live in one state and work in another should check both states' rules on residency and credits.
What else to know about Colorado taxes
Colorado starts from federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction applies here too.
Higher-income filers may have to add back part of the federal deduction; that adjustment is not included.
The FAMLI paid leave premium is 0.88% of wages, split equally; your employer may pay your 0.44% share for you.
Denver, Aurora and a few other cities charge a small fixed monthly occupational privilege tax.
What this estimate does not include
Tax credits, itemized deductions, other income, overtime, bonuses, local income taxes and post-tax deductions are not included, and actual withholding follows your Form W-4 and Colorado's own withholding rules. Use it as a planning estimate. For the method and the federal rules, see the main paycheck calculator.