Lawyer salary in Colorado
Lawyers in Colorado earn a median of $168,520 a year ($81.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 16,720 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $336,970 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $159,670. Colorado ranks 6th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 5.8 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $206,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,350 | $40.07 |
| 25th percentile | $107,420 | $51.65 |
| Median | $168,520 | $81.02 |
| 75th percentile | $233,910 | $112.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $336,970 | $162.01 |
| Average (mean) | $206,440 | $99.25 |
Half of lawyers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,043.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,021.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,481.54 |
| Weekly | $3,240.77 |
| Hourly | $81.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $177,380 | 11,860 |
| Greeley, CO | $132,990 | 260 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $131,380 | 500 |
| Grand Junction, CO | $113,610 | 260 |
| Pueblo, CO | $113,170 | 140 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $106,320 | 1,390 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
Related jobs in Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $198,790 | $95.57 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $121,410 | $58.37 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $67,230 | $32.32 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $82,590 | $39.71 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $78,190 | $37.59 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $66,660 | $32.05 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $77,600 | $37.31 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Colorado?
The median salary for lawyers in Colorado is $168,520 a year, or $81.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $336,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Colorado?
The top 10% of lawyers in Colorado earn at least $336,970 a year. The top 25% earn $233,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,350 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $107,420 or less.
How many lawyers work in Colorado?
About 16,720 lawyers are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.