Denver Paycheck Calculator
On a $60,000 salary in Denver, a single filer takes home about $1,833.04 every two weeks ($47,659 a year) after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Colorado and Denver taxes and CO FAMLI paid leave. The Denver Occupational Privilege Tax is Denver Occupational Privilege Tax: $5.75 a month (from $500 of pay a month). Choose whether you live or only work in the city below the calculator's state settings.
Compare two scenarios
- A (saved)
- B (the form now)
| A | B | B vs A |
|---|
An estimate of what your employer withholds, using the IRS percentage method. Your actual paycheck can differ by a few cents because of rounding, or by more if your employer uses other settings.
How we got your number
Each step links to the official document it comes from.
Guides: how to read your pay stub · filling out Form W-4 · biweekly vs semi-monthly pay · why pay rises after the Social Security cap · how much tax is taken out, by state · who gets overtime · 1099 vs W-2 pay
Denver Occupational Privilege Tax
Who pays: Anyone working in Denver who earns $500 or more there in a month, wherever they live.
What pay it applies to: Not a percentage: a flat $5.75 for each month you earn at least $500 for work in Denver. Your employer pays another $4 a month, which is not taken from your pay.
Denver Occupational Privilege Tax: $5.75 a month (from $500 of pay a month). It is spread across your paychecks in the calculator.
Sources (checked Oct 25, 2026):
Colorado paycheck rates for 2026
| What comes out | 2026 rate | Official source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10%–37% brackets (IRS percentage method) | IRS Publication 15-T (2026) | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Social Security | 6.2% up to $184,500 | SSA COLA fact sheet | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000 | IRS Publication 15 | Oct 24, 2026 |
| Colorado income tax | 4.4% flat on yearly pay above $5,500 ($11,000 married filing jointly) | Colorado Dept. of Revenue, DR 1098 (2026) Withholding Worksheet | Oct 24, 2026 |
| CO FAMLI paid leave | 0.44% of wages, up to $184,500 | Colorado FAMLI, Employers | Oct 24, 2026 |
Take-home pay in Denver at common salaries (2026)
On a $70,000 salary in Denver, you take home about $2,110.01 every two weeks, or $4,571.69 a month, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Colorado and Denver taxes and CO FAMLI paid leave.
| Salary | Every two weeks | Per month | Per year | Withheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $961.77 | $2,083.84 | $25,006.02 | 16.6% |
| $40,000 | $1,252.20 | $2,713.10 | $32,557.20 | 18.6% |
| $50,000 | $1,542.63 | $3,342.37 | $40,108.38 | 19.8% |
| $60,000 | $1,833.04 | $3,971.59 | $47,659.04 | 20.6% |
| $70,000 | $2,110.01 | $4,571.69 | $54,860.26 | 21.6% |
| $80,000 | $2,361.95 | $5,117.56 | $61,410.70 | 23.2% |
| $90,000 | $2,613.93 | $5,663.51 | $67,962.18 | 24.5% |
| $100,000 | $2,865.89 | $6,209.43 | $74,513.14 | 25.5% |
| $125,000 | $3,493.33 | $7,568.88 | $90,826.58 | 27.3% |
| $150,000 | $4,104.01 | $8,892.02 | $106,704.26 | 28.9% |
Assumes a single filer paid every two weeks with a 2026 Form W-4 and no adjustments, no 401(k) or health deductions, and the rules in force on Oct 26, 2026. Monthly and yearly figures are the paycheck times 26, divided by 12 for monthly. Enter your own pay above for your exact numbers.
Denver Occupational Privilege Tax: what workers need to know
Who owes it, working from home, refunds and filing in Denver. Each rule links to the official source. Checked Oct 25, 2026.
| Topic | The rule | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Who owes it | Anyone who earns at least $500 in a calendar month for work performed in Denver owes the employee OPT for that month. You do not have to live in Denver, and your employer does not have to be based there. | Denver Treasury, Business Tax FAQs |
| Working from home | If your home or remote location is inside Denver, you owe OPT once you meet the $500 test. If you work remotely outside Denver and earn less than $500 a month from work inside the city, you owe nothing. | Denver Treasury, Business Tax FAQs |
| Getting a refund | You owe the employee OPT only once even if you have several Denver jobs. Give Form TD269 to your second employer so it stops withholding. If more than one employer already withheld it, submit a Claim for Refund form. | Denver Treasury, Business Tax FAQs |
| Employer withholding | Your employer withholds the $5.75 a month from your wages and sends it to Denver with its OPT return. It also pays its own $4 a month business OPT for you. This applies even to employers based outside Denver. | Denver Treasury, Business Tax FAQs |
| Working in two head-tax cities | If you work for one employer in Denver and another city with a head tax, such as Aurora, you pay only where you spend most of your hours. This does not apply if the other city has no such tax. | Denver Treasury, Tax Guide Topic 61 (OPT) |
| Where to file | Employees do not file OPT returns themselves. Employers and self-employed people register and file through the Denver eBiz Tax Center at denvergov.org/ebiztax. Questions go to Denver Treasury at 720-913-9400. | Denver Treasury, Business Tax FAQs |
| Gross pay counts | The $500 test uses your gross pay for Denver work, not taxable wages. For example, $600 earned with a $200 401(k) deduction still counts as $600, so OPT is due. | Denver Treasury, Business Tax FAQs |
| Self-employed | Sole proprietors and partners are not employees and do not pay the $5.75 employee OPT. Instead they pay the $4 a month business OPT for each month they do business in Denver. Those without employees may pay for the whole year by January 31. | Denver Treasury, Business Tax FAQs |
Denver paycheck questions
Do I pay Denver's head tax if I work remotely outside Denver for a Denver company?
Not if you earn less than $500 in a month from work performed inside Denver, whether at the office or at home. If your home or remote location is inside Denver and you earn at least $500 a month, the $5.75 monthly employee OPT applies.
I have two jobs in Denver. Do I pay the OPT twice?
No. You owe the employee OPT only once. Give Form TD269 to your second employer so it stops withholding. If both employers already withheld it, submit Denver's Claim for Refund form. Your second employer still pays its own $4 business OPT.
Do I need to live in Denver to pay the Occupational Privilege Tax?
No. The OPT depends on where you work, not where you live. If you earn at least $500 in a calendar month for work in Denver, your employer withholds $5.75 for that month, even if it is based outside Denver.
Does a 401(k) deduction help me get under Denver's $500 OPT threshold?
No. The $500 test uses gross pay for Denver work, including commissions and bonuses, not taxable wages. Someone earning $600 in a month in Denver with a $200 401(k) deduction still meets the test and owes the OPT.
How much is $70,000 a year after taxes in Denver?
About $54,860.26 a year, or $2,110.01 every two weeks, for a single filer with no pre-tax deductions in 2026. That is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Colorado and Denver taxes and CO FAMLI paid leave. Use the calculator for your own filing status and deductions.