Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Aerospace Engineers actually take home in Colorado?
4.4% flat rate — 29.4% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Aerospace Engineers earning $156,190 in Colorado (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $156,190 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$27,024 | 17.3% |
| Colorado State Income Tax | -$6,872 | 4.4% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$9,683 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$2,264 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$45,844 | 29.4% |
| Take-Home Pay | $110,345 | 70.6% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Aerospace Engineers in Colorado.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $101,970 | -$26,561 | $75,408 | 26.0% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $128,440 | -$35,841 | $92,598 | 27.9% |
| Median (P50) | $156,190 | -$45,844 | $110,345 | 29.4% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $180,310 | -$53,814 | $126,495 | 29.8% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $210,410 | -$63,201 | $147,208 | 30.0% |
After federal income tax ($27,024), state tax ($6,872), and FICA ($11,948), a Aerospace Engineers in Colorado takes home $110,345 per year — or $9,195 per month. The effective tax rate of 29.4% is moderate compared to the national range.
A Aerospace Engineers in Colorado loses 29.4% of gross pay to taxes — higher than the ~25% national midpoint. Of the $156,190 gross, $110,345 lands in the paycheck after federal ($27,024), state ($6,872), and FICA ($11,949) withholding.
Colorado applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Aerospace Engineers salary that contributes $6,872 to the 4.4% effective state-tax burden.
Federal income tax ($27,024) accounts for 59% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $11,949 (26%), and state tax the remaining $6,872 (15%).
The state-tax gap is substantial: a Aerospace Engineers earning this gross in a no-income-tax state would net about $117,217 — an extra $6,872 (6.2%) annually compared with Colorado.
For Aerospace Engineers after-tax pay, Colorado ranks #2 of 41 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $110,345 net/year works out to $9,195/month or $4,244/bi-weekly for this Aerospace Engineers in Colorado — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Aerospace Engineers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Colorado ranks #2 out of 41 states for Aerospace Engineers after-tax take-home pay.
A Aerospace Engineers in Colorado earning a median salary of $156,190 will take home approximately $110,345 per year after federal income tax ($27,024), state income tax ($6,872), and FICA ($11,948). That is $9,195 per month or $4,244 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Aerospace Engineers in Colorado is 29.4%, broken down as: federal income tax 17.3%, Colorado state tax 4.4%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Colorado has a 4.4% flat rate. On a Aerospace Engineers's median salary of $156,190, the state income tax amounts to $6,872 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.4%.
After all taxes, a Aerospace Engineers in Colorado takes home approximately $9,195 per month, or about $53.05 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $156,190 for Aerospace Engineers in Colorado, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Colorado state income tax (4.4% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $110,345/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR