Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary really buy you in Colorado?
Colorado is 2.3% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Colorado's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.3, meaning prices are 2.3% higher the national average. A Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earning $63,760 in Colorado has the equivalent purchasing power of $62,326 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) | $49,580 | $48,465 | $-1,114 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $59,760 | $58,416 | $-1,343 |
| Median (P50) | $63,760 | $62,326 | $-1,433 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $79,560 | $77,771 | $-1,788 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $99,400 | $97,165 | $-2,234 |
Colorado's cost of living is close to the national average, so $63,760 keeps most of its value at $62,326 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 102.3, Colorado is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living, $63,760 nominal nets out to $62,326 in real purchasing power — a small 2.2% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education.
Colorado ranks #44 of 51 — bottom quartile for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Colorado ranks #44 out of 51 states for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education take-home pay in Colorado after taxes →
A Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in Colorado earns a median salary of $63,760 per year. After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (RPP=102.3), the real purchasing power is $62,326 — 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 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in Colorado: $63,760 x (100 / 102.3) = $62,326. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education's nominal salary of $63,760 in Colorado has 2.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $62,326. However, Colorado may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.