What does a Civil Engineers salary really buy you in Colorado?
Colorado is 2.3% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Colorado's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.3, meaning prices are 2.3% higher the national average. A Civil Engineers earning $98,210 in Colorado has the equivalent purchasing power of $96,001 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Colorado's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $67,030 | $65,522 | $-1,507 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $77,910 | $76,158 | $-1,751 |
| Median (P50) | $98,210 | $96,001 | $-2,208 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $127,190 | $124,330 | $-2,859 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $148,420 | $145,083 | $-3,336 |
Colorado's cost of living is close to the national average, so $98,210 keeps most of its value at $96,001 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Civil Engineers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Colorado ranks #17 out of 51 states for Civil Engineers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Civil Engineers take-home pay in Colorado after taxes →
A Civil Engineers in Colorado earns a median salary of $98,210 per year. After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (RPP=102.3), the real purchasing power is $96,001 — a -2.2% difference.
Colorado's cost of living is 2.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Colorado is 102.3 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Civil Engineers in Colorado: $98,210 x (100 / 102.3) = $96,001. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Civil Engineers's nominal salary of $98,210 in Colorado has 2.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $96,001. However, Colorado may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.